Speaking of believing, today’s text gives one pause…It’s one of the most remarkable paragraphs in the Bible:

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14.12 – 14, ESV)

If I’m not doing “greater works,” is it because I don’t believe? Or because I’m not asking? Twice Jesus said:

• Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do (verse 13)
• If you ask anything in my name, I will do it (verse 14)

Peter, for example, believed as shown in Acts 3 and Acts 9.

And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. (Acts 3.4 – 7, ESV)

But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. (Acts 9.40, 41, ESV)

It would be just like Peter, wouldn’t it? “Jesus said that if we believed, we could do greater works, did he not?” So went confronted with a lame man, Peter didn’t think twice about it: “Rise up and walk!” And when informed about a death, “Tabitha arise.” Jesus did it! Why can’t I do it? Jesus said we could!

And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21.21, 22, ESV)