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If Jesus
is God, then why did He say
the Father was greater than He?
"You heard
that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you
loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I,'"
(John 14:28).
Jesus said the
Father was greater than He not because Jesus is not God, but because Jesus
was also a man and as a man he was in a lower position. He was
". . . made for a little while lower than the angels . . ."
(Heb. 2:9). Also in Phil. 2:5-8, it says that Jesus "emptied
Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness
of men . . ."
Jesus has two natures. Jesus was not
denying that He was God. He was merely acknowledging the fact that
He was also a man. Jesus is both God and man. As a man, he was
in a lesser position than the Father. He had added to Himself human
nature (Col. 2:9). He became a man to die for people.
A comparison can be found in the marriage
relationship. Biblically, a husband is greater in
position and authority than his wife. But, he is no different in
nature and he is not better than she. They share the same nature,
being human, and they work together by love.
So, Jesus was not denying that He was God.
He was simply acknowledging that He was also a man and as a man, he was
subject to the laws of God so that He might redeem those who were under
the law; namely, sinners (Gal. 4:4-5).
For further
reading please see the two natures of
Jesus.
SCRIPTURES
QUOTED:
- Phil. 2:5-8,
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with
God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a
bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point
of death, even death on a cross."
-
Col. 2:9,
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily
form,"
- Gal. 4:4-5, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent
forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might
redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as
sons."
- Heb. 2:9,
"But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than
the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with
glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for
everyone."
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