He healed the sick, stilled the storm, walked on water, and fed thousands with a boy’s lunch. The disciples shook their heads in wonder. How did he do it?
What is supernatural to us is natural to God; he made the whole thing in the first place!
God’s not hiding in heaven with his arms folded. Like a potter with a stubborn lump of clay, his earnest fingers penetrate every corner of creation, working his masterpiece with a vision in his heart. Miracles are merely a window into his world.
The Greater Things Problem
But then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things…” (John 14:12). Ridiculous? I used to think so, convinced Jesus performed his miracles because he’s the Son: of course he could walk on water and multiply lunch. He’s God.
Jesus also said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself,” and “By myself I can do nothing.” (John 5:19, 30). Why not? Because “He stripped himself of all privilege.” (Philippians 2:7, PHILLIPS). While he never surrendered his divinity, he became a man with no more or less power than a man, though without sin.
So how did he do it?
Jesus didn’t begin ministry until he was baptised in the Holy Spirit. After the temptations, he returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14), saying, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me…” (Luke 4:18a). Anointed. That’s how he could do the miracles.
When Jesus walked on the earth, he laid aside his divine power to demonstrate how we, filled with the Holy Spirit, can do even greater things. Anointed by the same Spirit.
For more, get my latest book, The Seven Seals of the Holy Spirit.