John 14:11-14, says: “11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 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. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. 15 If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” 

The word “works” here means the whole of Jesus’ ministry on earth. His preaching, teaching, acts of mercy and kindness, healings, casting out of demons and more. Jesus is saying that these works that He has done point to the truth that He is united with the Father – they show us that Jesus is ‘God the Son’.

Jesus says that those who believe in Him will continue His ministry on earth when He returns to heaven to be with His Father. He even says that the effects of their ministry will be greater! This is because Jesus after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension he will send His Holy Spirit to them to live in them and help them. Through the power of the Spirit, the church of Jesus Christ has been growing through the ministry of His disciples ever since Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came for the first time (Acts 2). On that day 3000 people became believers – lots more than ever did when Jesus was on earth. The Pentecost story is one example of the ‘greater things’ mentioned in these verses, and this kind of ‘greater thing’ is continuing on today to God’s glory, that many more may discover the truth about who Jesus is.