Kuyper on the ‘Greater Things’
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these. . . .”
These were the words of Jesus in John 14 to his disciples. What do these puzzling words refer to? Can we really do greater things than Jesus?
Abraham Kuyper, the influential neo-Calvinist journalist, theologian, politician and author, speculates on this passage in a thought-provoking section of his book Pro Rege. Kuyper suggests that at creation humankind had a “power over Nature” that enabled us to exercise dominion over many things. Much of this, he suggests, was lost after the fall.
After that, Kuyper says our knowledge of creation grew slowly through instinct and experience. He compares this to the farmer in Isaiah 28, who receives practical agricultural instincts and knowledge from God. But in recent times our knowledge of creation has significantly deepened through scientific research and the deliberate study of nature. We now know about soil chemistry, plant biology and animal physiology. Likewise, Kuyper describes how modern research has informed cooking, art, medicine and even parenting. “A much greater power over nature became ours,” he says, “when, by research and reflection, humanity penetrated through the very essence of nature and learned to put the powers hidden within her into service.” He acknowledges that nothing compares to Jesus’ miracles, but these signs were applied to one specific person, place and time. He suggests the “power over nature, which we now have, exercises its work and influence among all countries and nations equally from one century into the next. It is a blessing to thousands simultaneously in all their distress and diseases.” He concludes: This “allows us to explain fully how Jesus – knowing what he would bring about and establish in and through us through later development – could tell his disciples that they would perform things that were greater than those visible in his miracles.” In a sense, Kuyper speculates it is science and technology that will enable us to do “greater things than these.”
Rebirth
Frankly, I am uncomfortable with Kuyper’s speculations on this verse. Kuyper lived and wrote near the turn of the 20th century, a time of much technological progress and optimism. He was not blind to some of the challenges, noting the rise in injustice and oppression of the poor and the growing ambition of the powerful. He was clear that the progress of technology would not bring about the kingdom of God. In fact, he recognized that the triumphs of technology had the effect of reducing people’s dependence on God and coming to the “holy place” of true repentance.
What I appreciate in Kuyper is his emphasis on palengenesis, a New Testament Greek word for rebirth (used in Titus 3:5). Kuyper paints a broad vision of the kingdom of God, calling us to engage every square inch. But before we can go about being busy in the kingdom, we need to form a relationship with the King. We need to be born again through the work of Spirit. But this rebirth is not just for individualistic purposes, the inward journey must equip us for the journey out into the wider world. This includes the world of technology. Interestingly, Kuyper notes that the word palengenesis is also used in Matthew 19:28 where it refers to the rebirth of the entire cosmos!
So what are the “greater things” Jesus was referring to in this verse? I confess I don’t know. Some may be drawn to a more spiritual interpretation for this verse. What seems clear is that all who have faith in Christ are called to do his work, also in the realm of technology.
Just prior to this verse we are reminded that Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” and just after this verse Jesus promises to send the Spirit. Thank God we are not left on our own; we need his help as we engage kingdom work, in the little things as well as the greater things.
