Bible Questions Answered: The Kenosis

Bible Questions Answered:
Alright, Rev. you say that Christ was not a first son, never created, but how then do you deal with a scripture where Christ definitely says, that his Father is greater than he is? This is proof he is a created son!
Hank/ Leicester, U.K.

Bible Answers:
The scripture to which you refer is...

John 14:28 KJV "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

This concept of the Father being greater is completely cleared up, if we but read...
Philippians 2, which deals with the "Greek-Kenosis: Voluntary abasement,self emptying,:"
in becoming man.

Philippians 2:5-11 KJV
[5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
[6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:.......
John 1:1,2 KJV
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] The same was in the beginning with God.

[7] But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
[8] And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The Eternal Son of God, could never say this, because, as God, He was equal in every aspect to God the Father.
But Jesus, the man, God incarnate, could say this.

It has been well said, that Christ voluntarily emptied Himself of His Contents, not His Substance,i.e. in His self emptying He left His Throne and its Majestic Glory, which He had eternally shared with the Father, to became a man,for the purpose of man's redemption.

He gave up His Divine Majesty, but not His Divinity,for He was still every bit the Divine Son of God.

God's Son humbled Himself...

1) Became flesh and blood, the incarnation. (John 1:14 KJV "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Incarnation, was not an humiliation,or degradation, but that He was willing to take upon Himself the form of mans sinful flesh and all its limitations and weaknesses.

2) Made Himself of no reputation, took on the form of a servant.
3) Was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

[9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
[10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Amen