Note 17 at Jn. 14:12: This scripture makes it very clear that it is God's plan to do the same miraculous deeds through believers as He did through Jesus. The only reason we don't see more miracles today is not because God doesn't will to do them, but rather because very few believe.

Through those who believe, God is still healing the sick today, raising the physically dead to physical life again, casting out devils, and taking charge of the elements as He did through Jesus and the apostles in the Bible days. This scripture will never fit into a theology that says miracles are not for today.

Note 18 at Jn. 14:12: Some people have tried to avoid the obvious teaching about miracles in this verse by focusing attention on Jesus' statement that we would do greater works than Him. They say that preaching the gospel over radio and television and the printed page are these greater works because they are reaching more people than Jesus ever did.

Even if these were the greater works that Jesus referred to, that would not void Jesus' statement in this same sentence that we would do the same works that He did. This verse makes it very clear that as long as there are believers, the same miraculous power that the Word records operating through Jesus will also operate through those who believe. Failure to see the miraculous power of God in our lives is our fault, not God's.

Note 19 at Jn. 14:12: There are special ministry gifts of the spirit (1 Cor. 12:8-10), such as the gift of miracles, which only some people possess. But this verse is stating that every believer can do the same miracles that Jesus did and even greater. Therefore, individuals may not have a ministry of miracles, but they can see them operate in their lives as they have need of them, through their own faith.

Note 20 at Jn. 14:12: What are these "greater" works that Jesus spoke of? It is clear in scripture that Jesus had the Spirit without measure or in an unlimited amount (Jn. 1:14; 3:34), so how could anyone possibly do anything greater than what Jesus did?

Some people have thought that Jesus might have been referring to the fact that we are able to reach more people with the gospel and the miraculous power of God than what He was able to do in His brief ministry here on earth (see note 18 at Jn. 14:12, p. 433). It is also possible that Jesus didn't perform every possible type of miracle and if there arose the need, His disciples could.

Also, the "new birth" of which Jesus spoke (Jn. 3:3-7), and which He came to provide by His death and resurrection, was not yet a reality (see note 6 at Jn. 3:10, p. 48). Therefore, it is possible that this miracle of the new birth was considered by Jesus to be greater than all the physical miracles that He had performed.

Note 21 at Jn. 14:12: Why did Jesus hinge the ability of those who believed on Him to perform these miracles, on the fact that He was going unto the Father? Jesus later revealed, in this same discourse, that the Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus had departed to the Father (Jn. 16:7; Jn. 7:39).

It was through the anointing power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus' miracles had occurred. As spoken in Zechariah 4:6, "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Therefore, without the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the power that it brings (Acts 1:8), these miracles cannot occur.