Why was Jesus able to deliver a demon without even saying a prayer?
Why was he able to calm the storm?
Why was he able to feed the 5,000+ with just five loaves and two fishes?
Why was he able to walk on water and calm the second storm without even speaking a word?
You’re thinking, Bill, that’s an easy answer: Jesus was the Son of God! Of course, that’s true, but it’s not a good answer to these questions. The perfection and power of Jesus prove that he was the Son of God, but the fact that he was the Son of God does not by itself explain why he was able to do what he did. Jesus was also fully human and tempted in every way that we are (Philippians 2:7-8, Hebrews 4:15).
Where did Jesus get his peace and power from? What was his secret?
Jesus abided in perfect oneness with the Father continually (John 10:30). He lived in constant submission to the Father, never acting on his own, but only doing what he saw the Father doing (John 5:19). Therefore, Jesus had the Holy Spirit without limit (John 3:34; Colossians 1:19).
Before Jesus walked on water he spent the whole night in a prayer vigil. He was talking with the Father, sharing his heart and listening to him — loving on him and being loved by him.
It was the same in the other Gospel stories. Before Jesus calmed the first storm he was resting peacefully in Abba’s arms.
Before Jesus was brought in to deliver a boy of the demon he had already done lots of fasting and praying which put him in a posture of trust in the Father.
Before he multiplied the loaves and the fishes he had learned that, “People don’t live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4).
Jesus knew that the Word of God is life-giving; it was a real substance that he feasted on his 40 days of fasting in solitude and throughout his life. In all that he did Jesus was sustained by his Father’s words. Joined completely with the Father, it was nothing for him to create something out of nothing.
Jesus’ intimacy with the Father was the secret of his wisdom, compassion, and power. This intimacy was not automatic for him just because he was the Messiah and Son of God. Luke tells us that, “Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Hebrews tells us that, “Jesus learned obedience through suffering” (Hebrews 5:8).
What would it look like for you to be like Jesus? Can you learn to be calm in a storm? Show great compassion for hurting people? Heal the sick? Teach others with God’s wisdom and authority? Offer blessings to people who are mistreating you?
When Jesus told us, “Abide in me and you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5) he was empowering us to live in his intimacy with God and to love others as he did.
The more that we abide in Jesus Christ as he abides in the Father the more we will be like our Master. The Apostles and many other extraordinary Christ-followers over the centuries have shown us that it is truly possible for us to be like Jesus.
Lord Jesus, you make our lives so much better. You draw us into your intimacy with Father God. Thank you for your peace and power today.
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Listen to this week’s SoulTalk: Reflecting and quieting your soul with Jesus in what Bill and Kristi call “TLC” time is an invitation to experience deeper intimacy with Christ. Extended time allows you to experience increased giving and receiving of God’s love. Just as Jesus withdrew from ministry to be along with the Father, so must we. In this episode, Bill and Kristi offer practical and compelling encouragement for creating intentional space to be with Christ.
