JESUS GAVE UP HIS SUPERPOWERS: FOR YOU AND I TO BE SAVED

Jesus gave up His superpower prerogatives when He came to earth, being born of a virgin. How then did He accomplish His miracles?

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

(8) Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (9) For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, (10) so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5, 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11

By what power did He accomplish His mighty miracles? We know that the source of His power was the power of God, but by what authority did He wield it, as the Son of God – God Himself, equal with the Father? The answer to this question will determine much about what you believe concerning whether miracles are possible today and whether we also have access to this same miracle working power.

It was not as God. The scripture is clear and emphatic. Jesus ‘emptied’ Himself of His divine power in the Incarnation. To rightfully pay for mankind’s sin, Jesus must first become fully man. Was He still God? Yes, He was still fully God. This is the mystery of the Incarnation – ‘one new Man’ – fully God and fully Man. Scripture states that He (as God) only took on the form, likeness, and appearance of man. During His earthly walk, He was God in earthly form, not directly utilizing His own divine essence. It is interesting to note, that Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man 80 times, and only a couple times as the Son of God. He was God, but the emphasis was on His walk as a Man, God’s true new Man.

God the Father was the source of all the miracles. He accomplished them through Jesus Christ; the Son of Man. Jesus depended wholly on the Father for all that He did.

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:19

“The things which I have seen in the presence of my Father I am speaking..” John 8:38a Wuest Expanded Translation

Jesus, in complete submissive obedience, depended on God the Father for everything. So much so, that Jesus said in John 14:9, “If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.” What allowed the power of the Godhead to flow through the submissive obedience of Jesus? Two things – the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.

“…Behold, I will pour out my Spirit on you, I will make my words known to you.”Proverbs 1:23b

Jesus Was Filled With the Word of God

Even though He didn’t come to earth as the Son of God, He still came sinless and perfect. Being born of the Holy Spirit and a virgin meant that He didn’t have the taint of man’s sin nature. His heart was perfect, and as such, it was the perfect soil in which the word of God could grow. During the time of His walk, the word of God would have been the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament. It was complete and more than sufficient for the job.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things came into being through Him, and, apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (5) The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5

From the very beginning, Jesus was identified with the word of God, and the word of God was identified with Him. He actually is the word of God, and is referred to as the ‘Word of God’ in Revelations 19:13. Now He that had been made flesh, He must become one with the word – again. This time through the same manner that all mankind must become receive the word, through study, meditation, and corresponding obedient actions.

Jesus submitted to the Father by submitting to the Word. The Word was His strength. It was the avenue by which His perfect obedience could be transformed into perfect power. It was through obedience to the commandments that God gave Him His authority and power.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

“…I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” John 10:17b

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. I John 5:4

The Parable of the Sower talks about the good seed growing in good soil, and bringing forth a rich harvest. What would happen if this good seed fell on perfect soil, like the type of heart Jesus would have? That seed would literally explode with growth, and the resulting harvest would be sufficient to bless the entire world. Jesus gave up His innate superpowers for a heart-grown super-faith.

Jesus paid the price for our salvation and paved the way for our walk of faith. He thus became our Savior and our highest example of faith. That is why the writer of Hebrews calls Him, ‘the source and goal of our faith (God’s Word Translation).’ We are not only to follow His walk of submission and obedience, but also His walk of faith. Just like with Jesus, we have been given the word of God, by which we can turn submissive obedience into vibrant and powerful faith. God the Father accepts our obedience to His word, and responds with faith, and faith has the power to overcome the world.

… and what is the exceeding greatness of His toward us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, (20) which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 1:19-21 KJV

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. Mark 16:20

Faith makes the power of God available. The word of God makes faith available. The word of God then represents the power of God.

Jesus Was Anointed With the Holy Spirit

Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, and He walked in fullness of the Spirit.

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, (22) and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” ….. (14) And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. Luke 3:21,22….4:14

We have this same Spirit living inside of us.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

The moment Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit; He walked as much different man on earth. He carried the full authority of Heaven because He had the fullness of Heaven working on His behalf. He did not have to rely on His own divine power because He could depend on the power of the Father through the word, and the power of the Holy Spirit on Him.

We Also Have the Word of God And the Holy Spirit

We, as Christian believers, have the same word of God, and the same Holy Spirit from which to draw God’s holy power. Our walk in the word is not at the same level as Jesus’ walk, because He is The Word of God. And, our ‘being filled with the Spirit,’ is not the same as Jesus, because He was given the Spirit ‘without limit.’ We are however able to walk in a degree sufficient to change the world around us.

Our biggest obstacle is the condition of our heart, and the amount of Word in our heart. Both are our responsibility, and are under our control. If we choose to, we can also walk clean in His Grace, and allow the word of God to grow abundantly in us. We have also been made ‘new wine skins,’ capable of being filled with the Holy Spirit. So, is it possible for us to walk in such power? Jesus apparently thought so, and He said as much.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” John 14:12

“..and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you.” Luke 22:29

“And behold, I am sending forth the promise (of the Holy Spirit) of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” John 15:16

Nothing is holding us back but us alone. We have the same arsenal from which Jesus had to draw, just in a lesser measure, but that measure is sufficient.

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