John 14:12 Commentary - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

1) "Verily, verily, I say unto you," (amen, amen, lego humin) "Truly, truly, I tell you all plainly," as He continued to comfort them, to give them comfort in their coming trials, 2Co 1:3-4.

2) "He that believeth on me," (ho pisteuon eis eme) "The one who believes or trusts in me," as they did, except for the continuing carnality of their old nature that still yielded to or was subject to temptations, Rom 7:18,25; 1Co 9:27.

3) "The works that I do shall he do also;" (ta erga he ego poio kakeinos poiesei) "The (kind of) works which I do, that one will also do," referring to the miraculous works that He did to attest His having come from the Father, by which many believed, Joh 2:23; Joh 3:2; Mar 2:10-11; Joh 20:30-31.

4) "And greater works than these shall he do;” (kai mezona touton poiesei) "And greater than these he will do,'' meaning greater in number and over a greater, wider area after they had been empowered as a church, and as individuals, to go forth as witnesses; Mar 16:15-20; Heb 2:4. See also Act 3:6; Act 13:11-12; Act 19:11-12.

5) "Because I go unto my Father." (hoti ego pros ton patera poreuomai) "Because I am going to the Father," from where I came, Joh 14:28; Joh 16:17.

And after His going, the Holy Ghost that was given by promise to indwell and empower His church forever, Joh 13:16-17; through which He chose to give miraculous powers to the apostles and individuals, until the Bible was completed; 1Co 13:10; 1Co 13:13; Act 4:30; Act 5:12; Act 8:13; Act 14:3; Rom 15:19; 2Co 12:12; Heb 2:4. He gave these miraculous powers, through the church, as He had in olden times to Moses and Elijah, for a restricted time and particular purposes of attesting that they were from God.

PROMISED ANSWER TO PRAYER, v. 13-15