Doing Greater things than the Master - a difficult challenge

At the end of his life, the Savior told the Apostles that they would do greater things than Him if they believed. That's such a tough statement to live up to. Here's the verse from John 14:

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that ^abelieveth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I ^bgo unto my ^cFather.

I can only imagine how Peter felt then when he healed the lame man outside the temple. That event was the first recorded time that the Apostles had a great following and did a work that was truly comparable to the miracles of the Savior. Certainly, it was a day where their confidence in their calling grew. Here's the incredible account of the healing:

1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man ^alame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an^aalms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have^agive I thee: In the ^bname of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7 And he took him by the right hand, and ^alifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

9 And all the people ^asaw him walking and praising God:

10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

I once heard Elder Gene Cook talk about this experience of Peter's. He said that this was true faith; Peter had never done such a thing, but he trusted in Jesus to a remarkable degree, he had the Priesthood, and the result was a great miracle.

Later we read that the man was over 40 years old, and that the people marveled greatly at the miracle. In the end, Peter's reputation grew so that people brought their sick out into the paths Peter was walking so that perhaps his shadow would touch the sick, and the sick would be healed. This is similar to the woman touching Jesus garment or the friends of the man with palsy dropping him in through the roof. Peter began to become all that Jesus wanted.

Here's Acts 5 about Peter:

14 And believers were the more ^aadded to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the ^ashadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.