Ron Writes

Jesus’ statement that “the Father is greater than I” (Jn. 14:28) says a lot about His love and sacrifice for us!

If you only have a shallow, elementary understanding of what He’s saying you might conclude with the cults that He’s saying He isn’t deity. That He’s not equal to the Father. However, throughout the gospel of John the fact of Jesus’ deity has been well established. Then what does He mean that “the Father is greater?”

Jesus became flesh (Jn. 1:14). For Him to be crucified He had to become flesh, He had to have a body, He had to become human. One of the greatest sacrifices for Jesus was to empty Himself. Jesus “already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:6-7). Jesus set aside His glory in becoming our Savior. As a man He put Himself under total submission to the Father. In this role He could say that the Father is greater.

The word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, but the concept is certainly there. Three persons making up one God. We read the phrase, there is one God (singular) and we read our God is one (unity). Each took on an equal, but different role in our salvation. At Jesus’ birth all three played a part (Lk. 1:35). At His baptism the Son is baptized, the Holy Spirit descends like a dove and there’s a voice from the Father in heaven (Mt. 3:16-17). Who raised Jesus from the dead? The Father (Gal. 1:1). The Son (Jn. 2:18-19; 10:18). The Holy Spirit (1 Pt. 3:18). It was God who raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24). Each person of the Godhead continues to play a part in the lives of Christians (1 Pt. 1:2).