Johann
Well-known member
Addendum
There is another aspect of this emptying that we want to discuss in this specific section. It seems that while on earth as a man Christ deliberately refused to exercise his Divine prerogatives to accomplish God’s will. The Scriptures suggest that Jesus did his miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit which descended upon him in all his fullness at the baptism:
"In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’ Mark 1:9-11
"But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." Matthew 12:28
"And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit."’" John 1:32-33
"For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure." John 3:34
"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." Acts 10:38
What this basically means is that Christ voluntarily chose to depend on God’s Holy Spirit to enable him to perform his functions and miracles as opposed to trusting in his Divine capabilities. This also explains why it wasn’t until after being anointed with the Holy Spirit that Jesus began his ministry and performed his mighty works:
"On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." John 2:1-11
The purpose for depending on the Spirit’s power, it seems, was to show true Christians the blessings that they could experience provided that they refrain from sinning against God. Since Jesus is the only sinless human who walked this earth he was able to operate in the full power of the Holy Spirit. Believers, on the other hand, do not operate within the Spirit’s fullness because of their sinful tendencies. Sin quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit, which therefore prevents him from fully empowering a believer:
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30
"Do not quench the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Yet Christ became the example for believers to emulate, showing what his followers are capable of achieving and experiencing provided that they walk in perfect obedience to the will of God.
Moreover, Jesus’ miracles were performed specifically to prove that he is God’s unique Divine Son:
"‘If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands." John 10:37-39
"Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ … Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you ARE the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’ … So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’" John 11:1-4, 23-27, 41-44
"Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.’" John 14:9-11
Thus, even though his miracles were down through the agency of the Spirit their intention was to prove that Jesus is Incarnate Deity.
And because Jesus didn’t cease to exist as God his followers were able to perform miracles in his name even while he was among them:
"John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us.’" Mark 9:38-40
"The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’" Luke 10:17-20
Amen. Praise you, Lord Jesus, praise you! You are eternally worthy of our love, praise, honor, glory and lives. And by your pure grace we will remain forever in love with you, O risen Lord and immortal Savior. Amen.
There is another aspect of this emptying that we want to discuss in this specific section. It seems that while on earth as a man Christ deliberately refused to exercise his Divine prerogatives to accomplish God’s will. The Scriptures suggest that Jesus did his miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit which descended upon him in all his fullness at the baptism:
"In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’ Mark 1:9-11
"But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." Matthew 12:28
"And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit."’" John 1:32-33
"For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure." John 3:34
"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." Acts 10:38
What this basically means is that Christ voluntarily chose to depend on God’s Holy Spirit to enable him to perform his functions and miracles as opposed to trusting in his Divine capabilities. This also explains why it wasn’t until after being anointed with the Holy Spirit that Jesus began his ministry and performed his mighty works:
"On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.’ So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." John 2:1-11
The purpose for depending on the Spirit’s power, it seems, was to show true Christians the blessings that they could experience provided that they refrain from sinning against God. Since Jesus is the only sinless human who walked this earth he was able to operate in the full power of the Holy Spirit. Believers, on the other hand, do not operate within the Spirit’s fullness because of their sinful tendencies. Sin quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit, which therefore prevents him from fully empowering a believer:
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30
"Do not quench the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Yet Christ became the example for believers to emulate, showing what his followers are capable of achieving and experiencing provided that they walk in perfect obedience to the will of God.
Moreover, Jesus’ miracles were performed specifically to prove that he is God’s unique Divine Son:
"‘If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’ Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands." John 10:37-39
"Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’ But when Jesus heard it he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ … Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you ARE the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’ … So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’" John 11:1-4, 23-27, 41-44
"Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.’" John 14:9-11
Thus, even though his miracles were down through the agency of the Spirit their intention was to prove that Jesus is Incarnate Deity.
And because Jesus didn’t cease to exist as God his followers were able to perform miracles in his name even while he was among them:
"John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us.’" Mark 9:38-40
"The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!’ And he said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’" Luke 10:17-20
Amen. Praise you, Lord Jesus, praise you! You are eternally worthy of our love, praise, honor, glory and lives. And by your pure grace we will remain forever in love with you, O risen Lord and immortal Savior. Amen.