Kenneth Hagin Sr, who I referred to was known for healing, as Kathryn Kuhlman, Smith Wigglesworth, and countless others. Jesus went around healing, Mk 5:34 + everyone else, and said we (believers) would do greater things than him. There are so many Scriptures on healing and miracles that I perceive as literal but I certainly wouldn't force anyone else to.
My bad! But, since Kenneth Copeland studied under Hagin, adopted his heretical doctrines, not just on healing but on many other things, my point remains. I guess you could say that Copeland is basically "grandfathered" into the clause. As for John 14:12, I think that context is important.
" ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ κἀκεῖνος ποιήσει, καὶ μείζονα τούτων ποιήσει, ὅτι ἐγὼ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα πορεύομαι·" John 14:12 Greek
"“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12 ESV
First, this verse is part of Jesus' reply to Philip, who asked Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (v. 8) Then, Jesus deals with their unbelief, and takes about his relationship to his Father. That is the context of this.
Up till this time, Jesus has always prayed to the Father, this time, he is saying in verse 13-14, that HE is the one who will be answering, when he goes to be with the Father.
"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." John 14:13-14 ESV
So, this passage is Trinitarian, and Jesus reaffirms what HE is doing! The Lord's Prayer directs us to pray to the Father, but in John 14, Jesus is giving one of his last teachings to his disciples, before he goes to the cross. He is showing that HE is God. That he answers prayer! So, is this passage about us? Not so much! It is about Jesus! He is God, and moreover, he is soon to die on the cross as an atonement for our sins.
Of course, the "great works" Jesus speaks of are what we do, through him. In fact, the greater works Jesus promised but not yet accomplished, are those of "taking away the sin of the world." (1:29), and baptizing in the Holy Spirit (1:33) Up till now, Jesus has turned water into wine, healed the sick, multiplied the loaves, but he has not, at least explicitly, forgiven or taken away anyone's sin. Clearly, something is missing!
That something is far greater than the "signs" as John calls them, that Jesus did while on earth, to fulfill prophecy as to who he was. And the real purpose of Jesus' incarnation was not to perform a few signs, wonderful as they were, but in fact, to go to the cross to reconcile us to God. He gave everything for us, and in obedience to his heavenly Father.
I think the greater works, have to be preaching the gospel, and leading people to Christ. John is very precise in his word usage. He does not use the words "greater signs" in John 14:12. He would have used the word "signs" if he meant miracles. While the other gospels do refer to what Jesus did, even they do NOT ever use the word "miracle." Only the longer ending of Mark 16, which is spurious. So, yes, Jesus did works. But what was his greatest work? Dying on the cross so we might be redeemed from sin. (And the rest of the Bible doesn't talk about miracles very much, either, although it records that God did many amazing things through the apostles, I will not deny!)
So, if that was truly Jesus greatest work, what are the greater works (not signs!) that we will do? Obviously, obeying his Great Commission in Matt 28, to preach the gospel to all the world.
"And when they saw him they worshiped him,
but some doubted.18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt 28:17-20.
So, what did these disciples doubt??? This was Jesus in front of them! Risen from the dead! Did they doubt what Jesus said next? That they were going to spread the gospel? Because, they could not doubt the resurrection, Jesus was right there! They could not doubt the signs and wonders, because they saw Jesus do them. I think that what they doubted, contrary to what some teach, is that they doubted that they were going to preach the gospel to the whole world.
And in fact, that was always Plan A. Plan A was to preach the gospel to all the nations. There was never a Plan B, about miracles being the "greater works!" Jesus offered the forgiveness of sins to the world. There is no greater work than that.
And getting back to the book of John, always remember the context! John 14, 15 and 16 go together. What does Jesus say in John 15:26-27?
"“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning." John 15:26-27
The Helper, Advocate or Spirit is going to help us "bear witness about Jesus." What happens next? "You, (meaning we, these days!) will also bear witness. Read John 14-16 in context, followed by Jesus high priestly prayer in John 17 and there is nary a sign or miracle in sight! Instead, Jesus is talking about salvation and forgiveness of sin. And preaching it! What does John 16 say?
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." John 16:7-11
John 16 says the Spirit is going to come to convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment. This is the gospel! The gospel is about receiving forgiveness from sin!
Wow, glad I did this little study! I knew the Word Faith use of this verse was wrong, wrong, wrong! I just didn't realize what a self centred false gospel it was in twisting this verse to make it about healing and miracles, instead of about the central doctrine of the Bible - Jesus dying on the cross, redeeming us, and then that we are supposed to bring the world to him!