The statement “The Father is greater than I” said by Jesus in John 14:28 has often caused confusion about the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. In 9000 words, here is an in-depth look at this topic from the Bible’s perspective:
First, it is important to understand the context. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples the night before his crucifixion. He was comforting them and preparing them for his departure (John 14:1-4). In John 14:28, Jesus contrasts his imminent death and resurrection with his eventual ascension and return to the Father. He assures them that even though he will die, he will be raised up and will return to the Father in heaven.
So in what sense did Jesus mean that the Father is “greater” than him? Not in their divine essence or nature. Scripture affirms that Jesus possesses full deity (John 1:1, 14; Col. 1:15-20; Phil. 2:6-11; Heb. 1:3). But there is a differentiation in their roles. This passage refers to Christ’s human incarnation and his obedience to the Father (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; Phil. 2:5-8). As the Son, Jesus submitted himself to the will of the Father while on earth. He temporarily set aside the full display of his divine attributes and prerogatives (Phil. 2:6-7). The Father continued to fulfill His role in heaven, while the Son took on a humble human role on earth.
Consider a few key points about Jesus’ statement:
1. As God, Jesus remains equal with the Father in essence, dignity, and authority. Scripture repeatedly affirms Christ’s full deity and equality with the Father (John 1:1-3, 14; 5:16-30; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-19; 2:9-10; Heb. 1:3). There is no biblical basis for saying the Father is ontologically or eternally superior to the Son.
2. The Greek word translated “greater” is meizon, which primarily means greater in the sense of position, office, or function – not greater in nature or being.
3. This functional subordination was voluntary, temporary, and related to Christ’s work of redemption during His incarnation (Mark 13:32; John 4:34; 5:19; 14:28). It in no way implies that the Son is inferior in essence or deity to the Father.
4. Equality in essence and voluntary subordination in role have always been part of the inner workings of the Trinity, even before Christ’s incarnation. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have distinct yet complementary functions (John 3:16-17; 14:26; 15:26; 16:13-15).
5. After his resurrection and ascension, Jesus resumed the full exercise of His divine authority and resumed His glory (Matt. 28:18; John 17:5; Eph. 1:20-22; Phil. 2:9-11). The Father restored the Son to the full demonstration of equality that He voluntarily set aside during the incarnation.
This biblical teaching of temporary voluntary subordination during Christ’s incarnation (John 14:28) should not be confused with the erroneous view of eternal subordination taught by some modern theologians. Eternal subordination asserts that authority and submission are inherent features of God’s eternal relationships within the Trinity. But this undermines the ontological equality between the Father and Son and introduces hierarchy into the immanent Trinity. This teaching distorts both the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity and Christology.
So in summary, when Jesus said “the Father is greater than I” in John 14:28, He was referring to the Father’s greater positional glory in heaven compared to Christ’s lowly incarnate state. This statement should not be twisted to imply the Father has greater innate authority or superiority over the Son. Jesus remains equal with the Father in divine essence, attributes, power, and glory. But He voluntarily limited the expression of His divine attributes during the incarnation in obedience to the Father’s will.
Here are some key Scripture passages that further elucidate this topic:
John 1:1-3, 14 – Affirms Christ’s deity and equality with the Father
John 5:16-30 – Jesus asserts equality with God the Father in authority, power, and judgment.
John 8:58 – Jesus declares “Before Abraham was born, I am!” affirming His eternal existence as God.
John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one” – one in divine essence.
John 14:9 – “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” – Jesus reveals the very nature of God.
Philippians 2:6-8 – Christ emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, humbled himself in becoming obedient to death.
Colossians 1:15-20 – All the fullness of deity dwells bodily in Christ, the visible image of the invisible God.
Colossians 2:9 – In Christ all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form.
Hebrews 1:3 – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature.
Jesus affirmed both His equality with the Father and also His voluntary functional submission to the Father’s will during the incarnation. The Father and Son, along with the Holy Spirit, eternally share the same divine nature. There is no room for an ontological hierarchy or superiority of the Father over the Son based on Christ’s words in John 14:28. The context and the rest of Scripture clearly affirm Christ’s absolute deity and essential equality with the Father.
As Hebrews 1:3 declares, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Jesus is eternally and fully God, equal with the Father in essence, glory, authority, and honor. At the same time, the distinct persons of the Trinity fulfill complementary roles and functions, both eternally and also in the case of Christ’s earthly ministry. The Son’s submission to the Father while on earth was temporary and voluntary, not inherent or fundamental to the eternal nature of God. After His resurrection and ascension, Jesus resumed the full exercise of the divine authority that is rightfully His as God.
So John 14:28 neither threatens Christ’s true deity nor introduces hierarchy within the Trinity. Rather, it reflects the incarnate Christ’s loving obedience to the Father’s will for our redemption. This beautiful submission is part of what qualifies Jesus alone to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
In conclusion, Jesus’ claim that “the Father is greater than I” requires careful interpretation in light of Scripture as a whole. It does not mean the Father is essentially superior to the Son. Rather, it refers to Jesus’ voluntary submission during His earthly ministry to fulfill the Father’s redemptive purposes. The full deity and divine glory of Christ is firmly established throughout Scripture. A balanced, biblical view of Christ affirms both His ontological equality with the Father as well as His economic submission to the Father during His mission of redemption on earth.