Since Jesus did the supernatural and lived His life as our example, then the supernatural should be a natural part of our lives. One of the greatest errors of our time comes from those who redefine the truth of Scripture to fit their meager existence, instead of elevating their experience to the height which the Bible declares. This has produced a weak and powerless version of Christianity which was never meant to be.
Paul writes to Timothy regarding this phenomenon. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, he says…
“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power…”
The list of men immediately sounds familiar to our day and age, and it sounds like people all around us. We can point to the world where we see examples of every one of these descriptors in living color. But, when we get to the end of the passage, it turns out that Paul is warning Timothy about people in the church or in some form of the church.
Paul says that they hold to a from of godliness, but they deny its power. These are men and women who are part of some church gathering, but their faith is obviously not real, because it does nothing to help them overcome an entire list of sins.
There are whole gatherings that adhere to an outward from of godliness. They either follow a strict set of rules or they have eliminated all standards of truth. When they see the miracles of Jesus, they explain them away. They embrace and exalt doubt, struggle, and sin, instead of seeking to believe the power of the kingdom.
When Paul said, they “deny” the true power of the kingdom, he uses a word that means to disregard any possibility of something, to convince oneself that something is false, or to refuse something that is offered. Specifically, they are denying the power of God, the power of the kingdom, and the work of Jesus on the cross.
Now look at the life of Jesus. Jesus did miracles on a regular basis. A miracle is a “mighty act of power.” It is a display of something that goes beyond what happens naturally. The word usually translated as miracle comes from the Greek word, dunamis, which is commonly translated as “power”. You probably recognize the word “dynamite” in it. It is explosive power. And it is the same word by Paul to describe the deniers.
We have already learned about the source of Jesus’ power. It came from the Father. Jesus did nothing of His own initiative. He did not have any power on His own. He was not able to do miracles, unless the Father spoke it to Him, showed Him, or taught Him about it. The Father passed on His power through His spoken word, visions, or instructions.
Acts 2:22-24 declares…
"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know - this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”
Jesus’ mighty acts of power covered the entire spectrum of God’s power and authority.
In Luke 4:28-30, Jesus passes through the crowd that was trying to kill him. He demonstrated authority over people.
In Luke 4:38-39, Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law by rebuking the fever. He shows authority over sickness.
In Luke 4:40-41, Jesus heals everyone in a crowd with different diseases and sickness by laying hands on them; and He cast out demons. He exercises authority over sickness and demons.
In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus guides His disciple to a massive catch of fish. He demonstrates authority over animals.
In Luke 5:12-14, Jesus touches a leper, heals him, and cleanses him completely of the disease. He shows authority over an incurable disease.
In Luke 5:17-26, Jesus heals and forgives the sins of a paralytic with a single command. He exercises authority over paralysis and over sin.
In Luke 6:6-11, Jesus restores a man’s withered hand with a simple instruction. He demonstrates authority over physical defects.
In Luke 7:1-10, Jesus heals the servant of a Centurion guard without being present with the servant. He shows authority over sickness and distance.
In Luke 7:11-17, Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead with a single command. He exercised authority over death.
In Luke 8:22-25, Jesus calms the wind and the waves with a strong rebuke. He demonstrates authority over nature.
In Luke 8:26-33, Jesus casts out a legion of demons and heals a man from torment. He shows authority over the entire demonic realm.
There are many more mighty acts of power recorded in the stories of Jesus’ life. Whatever He heard from the Father, He did. The Father showed Him what to do and He did it with the Father’s power. None of this was done on His own, so the Father might receive all the glory.
Jesus reiterates His dependence on the Father and declares something radical regarding mighty acts of power in John 14:10-12…
10 "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 initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
11 "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
12 "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."
Jesus’ statement is radical because He is talking about ordinary believers. He expects great things for anyone who believes in Him. There is no such thing as a class of super-believers that will experience the fullness of the kingdom. Mighty acts of power are supposed to be the norm or ordinary men and women.
Jesus gives two descriptions of the mighty acts of power that He declares will be done by ordinary believers, ordinary women and men just like you and me. He says that we will do the works that Jesus did. Then He says that we will do greater works than the works that Jesus did.
Luke uses the word, megas, to describe the works that are to be expected for followers of Jesus. The idea is that of exceedingly great works. Our works were meant to go beyond the natural to the supernatural, and even further beyond to the mega-natural.
This is where our faith meets the road. Jesus could only make these claims if He lived His life as an example to all those who would believe throughout the centuries. He lived as an ordinary man, filled by the Spirit, and instructed by the Father. Why? So, that ordinary men and women could understand what it looks like to be filled with the Spirit, receive instructions from the Father, and be a part of great miracles in the kingdom.
If you are struggling with believing this, there are two things in verse 12 that make Jesus statement here more believable. He wanted us to believe this, not to explain it away, or dumb it down because of our feeble experience.
First, He says, “Truly, truly…”. This double use of the word true was commonly used so that an audience would pay attention to what was about to be spoken. The words of Jesus here contain true truth.
Second, Jesus says we will do greater works than Him, “Because I go to the Father…” Jesus knew He would go to the cross, shed His blood to defeat sin and death, rise from the dead, and take His seat at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He knew He would be in a place of authority and be able to pass His authority on to us.
Jesus current presence with the Father takes abiding full circle. The Father directs our spiritual journey and gives us instructions. We follow His guidance. His instructions come with His authority and lead us to the supernatural. We live like Jesus lived. Mega-natural living is what God designed for His kingdom. It is naturally supernatural.
WORSHIP: God is able to perform what He speaks. As you worship Him, get that settled. His power is unlimited. His authority is higher than any other. He is the creator of heaven and earth. And He demonstrated all His power in Jesus’ mighty acts of power.
PRACTICE: Take some time to journal about what Jesus says about miracles. Answer some questions: What keeps you from believing this? What would help you believe more? Then spend some time with Jesus. He is the author and finisher of your faith. He will speak faith to you. Then He will process with you to bring it to fruition. To complete your faith. To bring you to a place where you know that you know that you know that this is true.
MEDITATION: Meditate on the miracles of Jesus to feed your belief. Instead of just marveling at His power and authority, contemplate what it might look like for you to be part of every one of His miracles. Put yourself in His shoes. Think of situations in your life where God might want to participate in a miracle. Take time to check in with the Father to see if He has any instructions for you to join Him in what He is doing.
ABIDING: By this time, it is very possible that the Father, your Spiritual Director, has led you to a place in Scripture where He wants you to abide. As you go back and read through this teaching one more time, ask the Father if there is anything in these passages specifically for you. Look for the things that reinforce what God is teaching you at this time. Write down anything you hear from Him. Spend some extra time listening to see if the Spirit has anything more to say to you or if there is a deeper teaching for you today. Write down whatever you hear. Ask the Father if there is someone, He wants you to share this with and follow through with His assignment.