Prayer and John 14:12-14

[ThePuppyTurtle]

John 14:12-14 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

This brings up 2 questions

Why are some prayers unanswered?

Why can’t I perform “greater works than these”? And why can’t most Christians?

 

[Nita]

John 14:12-14 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

This brings up 2 questions

Why are some prayers unanswered?

Why can’t I perform “greater works than these”? And why can’t most Christians?

Chapters 13 thru 17 in the Gospel of John record the words of Jesus to His apostles (first bishops) at the Last Supper. They are not part of a public discourse or teaching given to crowds of followers.

When priests baptize, when they celebrate the Mass and consecrate the Eucharist, they are doing greater works/miracles than the physical miracles Jesus performed (healings, walking on water, casting out demons, etc.) The graces from the sacraments save souls, which are greater works than controlling material elements; they infuse supernatural life which is greater than natural life.

When Jesus says “Whatever you ask in my name…” - the “you” to whom He was speaking were the apostles, the leaders of His Church.

 

[ThePuppyTurtle]

Chapters 13 thru 17 in the Gospel of John record the words of Jesus to His apostles (first bishops) at the Last Supper. They are not part of a public discourse or teaching given to crowds of followers.

When priests baptize, when they celebrate the Mass and consecrate the Eucharist, they are doing greater works/miracles than the physical miracles Jesus performed (healings, walking on water, casting out demons, etc.)

When Jesus says “Whatever you ask in my name…” - the “you” to whom He was speaking were the apostles, the leaders of His Church.

But then why does it say “whoever believes in me”?

 

[Nita]

But then why does it say “whoever believes in me”?

I can only give you how I understand the verses - there is no official interpretation.

I would still understand the “whoever” as applying to the apostles – like “whoever of you”. Jesus is in a room, talking to the 11 remaining apostles. He is saying it to them – “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever…”

It’s hard to conceive of any physical miracles that would be “greater” than those Our Lord performed (healing, raising from the dead, multiplication of loaves, …), and for that reason I see it as a reference to the sacraments. It is the spiritual healings and provision of supernatural nourishment (sanctifying grace) in the sacraments that surpass physical miracles. In connection with that, I guess one does have to remember that in an emergency, lay people can baptize. And, in the Sacrament of Matrimony, it is the man and woman who perform the sacrament.

Added note: I just checked the Greek, and I couldn’t find a word for “whoever”. But, I am not knowledgeable in Greek, so perhaps someone who is can do some checking on that and let us know.

For example, the Douay translates the verb “believe” in John 14:12 with the pronoun “he”, and not “whoever”.
Otherwise believe for the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he shall do also, and greater than these shall he do: because I go to the Father.

 

[Nita]

An added note.

If you check the previous verses, Jesus is speaking to them personally about believing in Him - about their belief.

John 14:1 "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me?
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.

(Above verses are from the RSV translation.)

 

[Marie_Anthony]

I can’t take credit for this, but I can’t remember who said it, either:
“God answers all our prayers, and sometimes the answer is ‘No’.”

 

[po18guy]

We lack faith.

Matthew 17:19
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief. For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I can’t take credit for this, but I can’t remember who said it, either:
“God answers all our prayers, and sometimes the answer is ‘No’.”

 

[ThePuppyTurtle]

I can’t take credit for this, but I can’t remember who said it, either:
“God answers all our prayers, and sometimes the answer is ‘No’.”

Then what about the verses, which seem to say otherwise? Namely the ones cited.

I generally don’t like such pseudo-wise slogans.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Then what about the verses, which seem to say otherwise? Namely the ones cited.

I generally don’t like such pseudo-wise slogans.

9* * And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for * a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 11:9-13 Sometimes we ask for a scorpion or a serpent. Will He give us them?

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

When you ask in Jesus Name, be sure that you as asking in accord with His Will.

 

[thistle]

John 14:12-14 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

This brings up 2 questions

Why are some prayers unanswered?

Why can’t I perform “greater works than these”? And why can’t most Christians?

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 12. And greater than these shall he do, because I go to the Father. Christ speaks of the greatness of visible miracles, and tells them, that after his ascension, they shall be enabled, even to do greater miracles than he has yet shewn to the world. He would give this power to his disciples, who were to convert the world; and perhaps the greatest miracle of all, was the conversion of the whole world. (Witham) — Behold another proof of my divinity, viz. the wonderful miracles those perform, who believe in me. An impostor may seduce the vulgar with false miracles, or, perhaps, with real wonderful prodigies; but he cannot confer that power on others. Behold, I have performed miracles by my own power, without any deceit, and always with a sovereign authority. I have given those, who believed in me, power to work in my name, as great, and even greater miracles, than I have done myself. All this I have done, to shew you, that I am equally God with the Father. I truly am so, then, for it would be impossible for God to assist an impostor, a liar, and an enemy to his honour and glory. (Calmet)

 

[AverageJoe33]

Sorry to go back in time to this post, but I do believe i may have some helpful insight. Or atleast a different perspective.

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these,”

Jesus(God) himself is making the statement in this verse. God is saying “and will do greater ones than these”…For us to think we know what it is that God himself thinks to be greater works than these that he has performed …would be claiming to know God’s mind so to speak. In my opinion thats a dangerous thing to fall into. We will never know what God thinks to be greater works than these. It is a mystery of God.

Just food for thought. What if God sees Peter’s love for him and faith in him being so great that he too is crucified for this without the Godly knowledge/love that Jesus had when he was crucified. No im not saying Peter’s crucifixion stands on par with Jesus Christ. But I am not God and what if God thinks it to be the case and considers it a greater work?