Words from the Rock
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done. I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.
John 14:11–14 NCV
Can you believe that you could do the kinds of things Jesus did during his earthly lifetime? Or even things that are greater? Do you think you could make a blind person see, make a wheelchair-bound person walk, or feed everyone in your school’s cafeteria with your brown-bag lunch? It seems unlikely, doesn’t it? Yet, as impossible as that sounds, Jesus says it could happen—if you believe in him.
Incredibly, it did happen for Jesus’s disciples. After his death and resurrection, he returned to give the disciples his Holy Spirit, and suddenly miracles were happening left and right. Everyone who witnessed these things, including the disciples, was totally blown away. Thousands of people came to faith. It must have been fun.
Still, you have to wonder, can that possibly happen now? Is this promise really meant for everyone? You have to put it in perspective. Jesus says many times that his promises aren’t limited to his disciples or followers more than two thousand years ago; they’re for everyone throughout the ages.
So the conclusion has to be that miracles could happen. In fact, there are many modern-day miracles. Some of the most amazing ones happen in struggling third-world countries, where people are more desperate and therefore their faith might be stronger. Even so, we need to remember and cling to this promise: Jesus says that whatever we ask in his name, he will do. The key here is to ask in his name—ask according to who he is, according to his will. That means we have to be tightly connected with him, letting his life be lived out in us. That’s when anything can happen!
My Prayer
Dear God,
I want my faith to grow, and I believe you can do great things through me. That means I need to stick close to you, and I need you to live your life in me.
Amen.
Final Word
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:6 NLT
Stone for the Journey
With God’s help, I can do anything.