Seeing Jesus' Power (Part 14)

This aspect of Jesus' character is one that man cannot duplicate. Regarding power, man is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Jesus. Rather than an example, therefore, Jesus' power provides encouragement, hope, and confidence.

Jesus' power was awe-inspiring in His day. "They were astonished, and said, 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?'" (Matthew 13:54). "The crowds were amazed, and were saying, 'Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel'" (Matthew 9:33). The land of Israel had indeed seen many amazing miracles over the centuries, but the crowds were right in their evaluation; never had miracles been done to the extent that Jesus did. "The crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing" (Matthew 15:30).

Jesus' healing power was oft-expressed. Here is a sampling of Jesus' healing power (emphasis added).

There was no limit on the types of illnesses Jesus could heal. "Healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness" (Matthew 4:23). "All who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them" (Matthew 4:24). "Bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them" (Matthew 15:30).

Jesus healed instantaneously. "And immediately his leprosy was cleansed" (Matthew 8:3). "At once the woman was made well" (Matthew 9:22).

Jesus healed thoroughly. "He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him" (Matthew 8:14). "Jesus said to him, 'Get up, pick up your pallet and walk'" (John 5:8).

Jesus healed even from a distance. "'Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.' And the servant was healed that very moment" (Matthew 8:13). "'Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.' So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, 'Your son lives'" (John 4:52-53).

Jesus healed through various effortless methods. "They brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill" (Matthew 8:16). "Brought to Him all who were sick; and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured" (Matthew 14:35-36). "And said to him, 'Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" . . . So he went away and washed, and came back seeing" (John 9:7).

Jesus even healed people who were dead. "He entered and took her by the hand, and the girl got up" (Matthew 9:25). "And He said, 'Young man, I say to you, arise!' The dead man sat up and began to speak" (Luke 7:14-15). "When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth'" (John 11:43).

Jesus had power over the laws of nature. "He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm" (Matthew 8:26). "He came to them, walking on the sea" (Matthew 14:25). "Go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel" (Matthew 17:27).

Jesus had power over food. "He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets" (Matthew 14:19). "When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine" (John 2:9).

Jesus had power to forgive sins. "Which is it easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Matthew 9:6).

Jesus had power to control His own arrest, death, and resurrection. "So when He said to them, 'I am He,' they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, 'Whom do you seek?' And they said, 'Jesus the Nazarene.' Jesus answered, 'I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go on their way'" (John 18:6-8). "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit" (Matthew 27:50). "I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again" (John 10:17-18).

The Bible is by no means comprehensive in describing Jesus' power. "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written" (John 21:25).

If God doesn't do something, it is never because He can't. The unstoppable power of God enables Him to do anything He decides to do. "For nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).

Even Jesus acknowledged He could not act without the Father. "Jesus . . . 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'" (John 5:19).

If Jesus drew from the Father' strength, it is exponentially more necessary for the believer. "For apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). On the other hand, as weak and helpless as the believer is, there is nothing he cannot do within the will of God when drawing on God's unlimited strength. "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves" (II Corinthians 4:7).