Why modern day followers & believers who exercise faith in Yeshua (Jesus) are unable to do similar & greater (WORKS OR MIRACLES) as he did? John 14:12: Jesus promises that those who believe in him will (VERILY VERILY), be able to do greater works than him.
First let’s get the
quoted Scripture: (always good to have multiple translations or versions of the
same verse in front of you)
John 14:12 –
Restoration Study Bible (04th
Edition) King James Version
Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
New International Version
Very truly
I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and
they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
New American Standard Bible
Truly,
truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do
also; and greater works than
these he will do; because I am going to the Father.
Majority of the English translations as above few examples always
tend to use the word, “WORKS” at John 14:12
There
are some Modern Translations of the Bible in English that use some other words
instead of WORKS.
Weymouth New Testament
In most
solemn truth I tell you that he who trusts in me--the things which I do he
shall do also; and greater things than these he shall do, because I am going to
the Father.
NET Bible
I tell you
the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous
deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am
going to the Father.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I
can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things that I am
doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father.
Contemporary English Version
I tell you
for certain that if you have faith in me, you will do the same things I am
doing. You will do even greater things, now that I am going back to the Father.
SO MANY
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS: Majority use word WORKS. Some others use,
Things I did, or Miracles, or Deeds. Which English word is accurate and why?
Before
I proceed any further…….. let me explain something first:
EISEGESIS: Eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word Eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text or scripture or word of Elohim, making it mean whatever he or she wants the outcome of the answer to be.
EXEGESIS: The opposite approach to Scripture is Exegesis
which is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective
analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That
means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text or
scripture of Elohim’s word. This is also called in Latin as, SOLA SCRIPTURA
meaning, Let SCRIPTURE INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
In the
above Question it is noted that you supplement the word WORKS
of Yeshua (Jesus) with his MIRACLES.
In the entire English Translations maximum majority of the
Translators and Publishers of the Greek New Testament while translating it into
English language have unanimously used the word, WORKS.
Not
even once, in the full chapter of John 14 is the word or topic MIRCALES
being discussed by Yeshua (Jesus)
Let’s check FOR A FACT by going back to the Greek New Testament of John 14:12 and let’s see what word was used in Greek and then use Strong’s Greek Dictionary if it means Works or Miracles. Simple Nah.
SEE THE ABOVE RED AREA MARKED IN THE GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLE.
In Greek language, the author used the word, ERGA or
ERGON as you can see in the Snapshot above.
Strong's Concordance
ergon: work
Original
Word: ἔργον, ου, τό
Part
of Speech: Noun,
Neuter
Transliteration: ergon
Phonetic
Spelling: (er'-gon)
Definition: work
Usage: work, task, employment; a
deed, action; that which is wrought or made, a work.
HELPS Word-studies
2041 érgon (from ergō,
"to work, accomplish") – a work or worker who
accomplishes something. 2041 /érgon ("work") is
a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension,
purpose).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from a prim. verb erdó (to do)
Definition
work
NASB
Translation
action (1), behavior (1), deed (13), deeds (52),
doing (1), effectual (1), labor (1), result (1), task (1), what...done (1),
work (34), works (62).
So Yeshua was clearly and surely NOT talking or referring to
his Miracles but to his Works.
VERY IMPORTANT:
·
There is no EQUIVALENT word
for Miracle in both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures.
·
The word MIRACLE is not
originally an English word too.
·
The English word “miracle”
comes from the Latin term “miraculum”, which merely refers to something that
evokes wonder.
·
The Bible in the Original
Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek languages does not have an exact, same to same
meaning word for the English word that we currently use as MIRACLE.
·
There are three primary Greek words translated as miracle: wonders (teras), powers (dunamis), and signs (semeion).
AT JOHN 14:12
JESUS DID NOT USE ANY OF THE ABOVE GREEK WORDS FOR WHICH THE TRANSLATORS WOULD
HAVE IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ANY DOUBT USE THE ENGLISH EQUIVALENT WORD OF MIRACLE.
Yeshua (Jesus) instead of using, Teras or Dunamis or Semeion, he used ERGON to communicate his WORKS and not his
miracles.
John 14:12
Most
truly I say to you, whoever exercises faith in me will also do the works that I do; and he will do works greater
than these, because I am going my way to the Father.
A little about Miracles, but through the
Hebrew & Greek words of the Bible:
Actions or phenomena that
surpass all powers known to humans and are attributed to a supernatural agency.
Such expressions as “sign,” “portent,” and “wonder” are sometimes used
synonymously in the Bible.—Exodus 4:21; Acts
4:22; Hebrews 2:4.
Occurrences
that excite wonder or astonishment; effects in the physical world
that surpass all known human or natural powers and are therefore attributed to
supernatural agency.
In the
Hebrew Scriptures the word moh·phethʹ, sometimes translated
“miracle,” also means “portent,” “wonder,” and “token.” (Deuteronomy 28:46; 1Chronicles
16:12, ftn)
It is
often used in conjunction with the Hebrew word ʼohth, meaning “sign.” (De
4:34) In the Greek Scriptures the word dyʹna·mis, “power,” is rendered
“powerful works,” “ability,” “miracle.”—Matthew
25:15; Luke 6:19; 1Corinthians 12:10, AT, KJ, NW, RS.
So from a BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OR POINT OF VIEW WHAT SHOULD
WE CONSIDER AS MIRACLES:
“A unique and extraordinary event awakening wonder (teras), wrought by
divine power (dunamis), accomplishing
some practical and benevolent work (ergon), and authenticating or signifying [as
a sign] a messenger and
his message as from God (semeion).”
In brief before concluding, what were Yeshua’s (Jesus) main WORKS that he had come to do on Earth?
1.
He came to make his Heavenly Father’s name
known on Earth. – John 17:26
2. Jesus
came to fulfill the Torah (Law) of Yahweh. – Matthew 5:17-20.
3. Jesus
came to finish the work of offering his life as a ransom sacrifice for the sins
of humankind. This was his most main and major WORK so to say, that’s why his
last dying words on the Cross was in Aramaic: Tetelestai – It is finished. (In English)
Tetelestai – The
Sacrifice Is Accomplished
This
Hebrew phrase was used in the Old Testament sacrificial system. Each
year, on the Jewish holiday called The Day of Atonement, the High Priest would
enter into the temple and make a special sacrifice for the sins of the people
of Israel. As soon as the priest had killed the animal, he would emerge from
the place of sacrifice and declare to the waiting crowd TETELESTIA in Hebrew
language meaning, “it is finished” in English.
In
this sacrifice, all the sins of Israel were symbolically
placed on the lamb that was killed and punished in their place. Yet the Bible
teaches that this sacrificial system was never really complete or finished
because the sacrifice of that lamb was imperfect and temporary. But when YAHSHUA
was impaled and died on the STAKE, he became the perfect and final sacrifice
for all of humankind’s sin. The Book of Hebrews describes how YAHSHUA was the
ultimate Lamb of ELOHIM and by his sacrifice, the work of forgiveness was
finally complete.
Just before he breathed his last breath, YAHSHUA uttered the
phrase “it is finished.” ... When Yahshua offered his perfect life as the
Second Adam as a Ransom sacrifice for all of Mankind’s sins, he said, “It is
finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:28-30. That phrase is actually the translation of one word,
“tetelestai,” in the original language of the Bible.
I COULD GO ON AND ON AND MAKE A COMPLETE LIST OF THE WORKS THAT
JESUS HAD COME TO DO WHILE ON HIS EARTH MISSION:
and he
will do works greater than these, because I am going my way to the Father.
So
what is the meaning that Jesus said “and he will do works greater than these” that his immediate Followers in his time?
(REMEMBER THIS VERSE IS NOT TALKING TO US. IT IS JESUS TALKING TO HIS IMMEDIATE
FOLLOWERS. OKAY)
MY
IMMEDIATE UNDERSTANDING:
All the 12 Apostles did a MAGNIFICIENT AND MARVELOUS AND
MAGESTIC WORK of Preaching, Teaching and Promoting the teachings of Yeshua
(Jesus) all over the world of that time and even much beyond.
JESUS DIED A HORRIFIC DEATH ON THE CROSS. 11 OF THE 12 APOSTLES HOW DID THEY GO?
They
did greater WORKS (preaching and teaching about his Father &
Creator) than even Jesus.
Revelation
14:12
Here
is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of
Yahweh, and the faith of Yahshua.
They even died like or worse than Jesus death. They 11 out of 12 died as MARTYRS.
