“Believe” is a key word here. Believing is the great antidote to the trouble heart… The sure way of knowing the Father. Belief is the better substitute for sight.
The disciples were afraid of Jesus’ departure from them. They believed this meant the activity of their lives would cease. That His voice would be now silent and that they’d be left to navigate the stormy waters all alone.
But Jesus is reminding His students here that He will be as constant of a friend to them from heaven as He ever was here on earth. He was consoling them in their grief that only by His absence could the Holy Spirit come to take up residence in their hearts.
Jesus’ word choice here, “greater” doesn’t mean that they’d have higher power, but a wider extent of influence. The apostles were to become greater only by means of extending the gospel to the ends of the earth. And this was to be done all through the power of the indwelling and infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The focus here is on spiritual matters more than physical miracles.
I love how Jesus leaves us the example as He was entirely focused on the will and the glory of the Father. My commentary says, “What matters it who is the visible hand?” Jesus knew that His 3-year ministry was no comparison to the world-changing impact the multitude of passionate pursuers could have. The word greater here is in direct relation to the impression His miracles and teachings would have on mankind.
One example witnessed in scripture is Peter’s shadow bringing healing to the sick (John 5). Ahh... Jesus’ faithfulness in His departing words commissioning us to works of great influence and genuine impact.
The extent of our effectiveness is made greater by His ever loving endowment.
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