Jesus’ Exercise of Deity During His Life on Earth

Did Jesus Exercise His Divine Capabilities When He Was on Earth?

John very clearly tells us in John 1:1 that Jesus is God. But did Jesus evidence his deity while he was living in this world, growing up from infancy, ministering for three and a half years with his disciples? Or did he only live out of his human nature, with the same limitations and abilities we have? There are several clues given us in Scripture that Jesus did not operate out of his deity but did, in fact, live his life just as we do.

First of all, we know that Jesus had to learn (Luke 2:40; Hebrews 5:8f) and did not know certain information (like when he was returning, Mark 13:32), and at times was surprised (Matthew 8:10). If he was operating out of his deity he would have all knowledge. He wouldn’t have to read the Scriptures, he would just know them. He wouldn’t be surprised by someone’s faith, he would have anticipated it. And he certainly would have known when he is coming back.

But aren’t there times when he does evidence supernatural knowledge (like in John 4 where he knows the woman at the well has had 5 husbands, etc.)? Yes, but it must have been revealed to him by the Spirit. The Spirit gives us supernatural knowledge at times, too. The book of Acts is full of such accounts. Jesus was open to the Spirit’s work in his life and paid attention to the Spirit’s communication to him, as must we if we are going to be led by the Spirit.

Second, Jesus acknowledges doing his miracles (especially demon exorcisms) by the Spirit’s power, not his own (Matthew 12:28). The Pharisees attack Jesus and assert that he is exorcising demons by the power of Beelzebub, by Satan, but Jesus calls this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, because it was the Holy Spirit’s power by which he exorcised the demons. We can exorcise demons by the Spirit’s power, also.

Third, Jesus’ proclamation of the gospel was by the Spirit’s enablement (Matthew 12:18). The prophecy of Isaiah, which is fulfilled in Jesus, was that the Servant of Yahweh would be empowered by the Spirit of God to proclaim justice to the nations. We see the Spirit empowering Jesus, of course, in the exorcising of demons, but this passage indicates his whole ministry of proclamation was Spirit-empowered.

Fourth, Philippians 2:5-11 tells us that Jesus “emptied” himself, and we know it is impossible to stop being God and thus to empty yourself of deity. So if Jesus was in the form of God, as Paul says, he was God, but emptied himself, not of his deity, but of his exercise of that deity at his own discretion. He humbled himself, yielding his will to the Father’s will. There may be one time when the Father permitted him to express his divine nature, and that is on the Mount of Transfiguration. There, we are told (Matthew 17, Mark 9) that Jesus’ face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. His own divine glory was showing forth from within him. But all other times in his life his deity was not apparent.

It makes sense that Jesus lived this way, that he did not live out of his deity but only out of his human nature while here on earth. That is what makes him our perfect example, that is what enables him to identify fully with us. We can follow his example, we can imitate being dependent, as he was, on the Spirit. Jesus said, ““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) We have the Holy Spirit given to us by Jesus to help us. We must only do ministry in His power, not in our own, even as Jesus did.