Questions people ask about Jesus, by John

Why did Jesus say, "Your faith has made you whole...."? Why didn't He just say to those to whom He spoke that He had all the power needed to do anything? Why did he say to more than one person, "I will, be thou clean"? Why didn't He tell them their faith had accomplished their healing? I supposed many Christians are familiar with the theory that God limited Himself when He gave us "free will." Are Jesus' statements part of that? Is that why Jesus could not do many miracles in His hometown? Matthew 13:57,58 says, "And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, 'Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.' And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."

Many believe that Jesus was always unlimited in power. Satan certainly believed He had all power when he tested Jesus. (Matthew 4) Some believe that His power grew as He grew. Somewhere between these two theories lies the truth. Personally, I do not think it makes any great difference which theory you believe. I do believe it is vital that you believe Jesus is the only born Son of God, that He died for our sins and that He arose from the dead for our salvation. I believe to inherit the eternal life He, and He alone, gives you must commit your life to Him repenting of your sin. Once you've done that, everything else becomes secondary. Nothing loses it's importance, but it does not compare with saving faith mixed with God's grace.

Now about the thing we started with. I believe Jesus' power grew as He approached the cross. I believe that because I believe He was completely human as well as completely God. Humans grow constantly adding to their knowledge and wisdom until they are older adults. As we are all too aware, with advanced age, some of our capabilities decline. We believe Jesus died about age 33, so He was not old enough humanly speaking to have lost any ability at all. At the time, Jesus was performing signs and miracles, I believe He was totally unlimited in power. I believe He limited Himself to helping those who sought His help. Those who didn't believe, didn't seek. I think that is obvious. I can remember how chagrined I was when a girl in my highschool class came into the drugstore as I was leaving, and I said, "Hi, Virginia!" She replied in kind, and her aunt who was with her loud enough for me to hear her said, "Don't tell me that kid is in your class!" People don't give honor and respect to those chose to them even today. I suppose they consider that "great people" would not inhabit their neighborhood, but Jesus' statement still stands as a truism today.

There is another very important consideration here. God's power, which can override any obstacle, does require our faith. I think that the different responses Jesus made were all designed to show more than one thing. First, it showed that God doesn't have to do anything the same way twice. Some doctors are now stating that we will be less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's if we stop doing everything by habit. They suggest we make little changes such as putting on our stockings or socks, etc., differently. Instead of right foot first, don them on the left first. There are many things we can change such as the route we take to the grocery, or work, and all of these things force us to use different parts of our brain.

I think a second reason Jesus answered people differently was to let us know there is not just one way to do spiritual things. One of us may pray, "In Jesus' name," while another may not simply because he considers himself in Jesus to start with! One of us may sprinkle water on a person's head, and another pour it on, while another submerges a person once, and another submerges them three times, all for baptism. The important thing is that we are in touch with our Heavenly Father and in His will when we do it, and that we are doing it because that person has placed his life-trust in Jesus.

A third reason in my mind is that Jesus knew human beings would try to reduce everything to a modicum of the truth. I believe He did not want us to know what He looked like physically for the same reason. He wants us to be exercising our minds, plumbing the depths of knowledge and reason while He provides us wisdom to use and share what we learn. "Jesus is the sweetest name I know...." But the Jesus I know wants us to know Him, not just His name. He wants us to share His life eternally. He wants us to enjoy all of God's creation, and I testify that we do when we really know Him!