Did Jesus gain the power to do miracles because he fasted?
Question:
Before Jesus began his ministry, he was led to the desert where he was tempted. He fasted the whole period. Many in the denominations claim he was empowered two perform miracles after his fast, such as turning water into wine, etc. In their claim, two miracle-working powers popular are that they fasted for a set number of days. I know Jesus and the power came. They say this is because they know no one is foolish enough to believe they were born with such powers, it came on its own, or randomly with no specific event.
What are your thoughts? Did the power of Jesus come after he fasted?
Answer:
If power came by fasting, then miracles should be evident anytime there was a famine in the world. If you claim that man choosing to fast causes God to give out miraculous gifts, then you are saying that men control what God does.
The fact is that Jesus is God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-3). Jesus was a part of the formation of the universe. He had the power to do as he pleased. "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house" " (Matthew 9:6). Forgiveness of sin was something only God can do, yet Jesus claimed that power and to prove it, he healed the paralytic. This wasn't a given power; this is something Jesus was able to do as God.
I could see someone claiming that Jesus began doing miracles after the Holy Spirit came to him at his baptism. "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him" (Matthew 3:16). This was just prior to his going out into the wilderness. Yet, the purpose of the Spirit's coming was to show God being with Jesus. "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles" (Isaiah 42:1). It was evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit'"" (John 1:29-33). The very name "Christ" or "Messiah" means anointed and refers to being selected by God and the medium with which Jesus was anointed was the Holy Spirit Himself.
It is important that the gospels state that it was Jesus who healed. "But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all" (Matthew 12:15). It is a part of the evidence that Jesus is God. This is unlike the apostles who appealed to Christ for healings. "Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk"" (Acts 3:6).
