Triumph of His Power

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 35, Issue 5, 1 July 1944, Page 2

Triumph of His Power

(By Beta)

"Lay Reader'" asks: "How are we to explain our Lord's words m St. John XIV. 12/: 'He that believeth on' me, the works that I do shall he do. also; and greater works than these shall he do; because 1 go to the Father,'" , . This is one of the most difficult sayings of our Lord. It has had many and various interpretations, none of which seems to be complete^ ly satisfying, Ofigen thinks thinks it refers to temptation, and says: Jtis a greater thing that Christ should overcome m us, than that he should overcome m himself." St. Chrysostom quaintly enough points out that St. Peter healed the sick by his shadow, which Christ himself did not do. St. Augustine s"ays, "When his' disciples preached the Gospel, not merely a few m number like themselves, but whole nations believed." The old Puritan commentator, Matthew Henry, takes the same line: "The Apostles obtained greater victories by the Gospel than had been the case while Christ was on earth. ' The captivating of so great a part of the world to Christ, under such outward disadvantages, was the greatest miracle of all." Were we m a position to make close comparisons, it is probable that much of the work of the Church under modern conditions is a greater triumph of His power working through us than the work' done iri His own day on earth.