Bible Questions Answered:
“...and you know plainly that the Christ says that his father is “greater,” than he is!”
Karey/ Austin, Texas U.S.A.
Bible Text:
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.
Bible answer:
Yes, it does, but what is its meaning?
First of all may it be well said with all truthfulness of the Word, The three in one, Eternal Living God, are co-equal with the others, i.e. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
And that they are not, in any example, in a state of competition with each other. That being said, its antithesis, may be applied. It is true, according to the Word, that God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are in state of chosen “submission,” to the Father.
And in this state, not one scintilla of less equality! When our Lord used the word “greater,” He was referring to His “submission” to His Father.
Christ was also submissive being in the flesh, and not in His former, heavenly glory, He had always shared with His Father.
Matthew 17:1-6 KJV
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
In our army (U.S.), we have the following ranks...
4 Star General
3 Star Lieutenant General
2 Star Major General
Now, are the Lieutenant, and Major, less men, less human than the 4 Star General?
Of course not, how ludicrous! Yet, they are different in their submission the one to the other, and in their measure of authority, but by all agreed upon measures of learning, earning and advancement.
Christ in submission to the will of the Father:
Philippians 2:5-11 NLT
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form,
8 He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The human body has some 200 bones. Is one more important than another? For their to be organization, and mobilization, God in His infinite wisdom in the creation of man, has so built upon a skeletal frame work.
I Corinthians 11:3 KJV (The Apostle Paul wrote...)
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Why has God said this?
Because to have order in the home there must be leadership. God never created two headed creatures.
Certainly this does not mean, one loved less than the another!
Galatians 3:28 KJV
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Christ's submission to His Father:
I Corinthians 15:20-28 NLT
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another Man.
22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back.
24 After that the end will come, when He will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.
25 For Christ must reign until He humbles all His enemies beneath His feet.
26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
27 For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under His authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under His authority,” that does not include God Himself, who gave Christ His authority.)
28 Then, when all things are under His authority, the Son will put Himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave His Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.
Submission:
Matthew 6:10 KJV
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 26:39 KJV
And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Luke 1:38 KJV
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Romans 6:13 KJV
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Hebrews 13:15-17 NLT
15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name.
16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
James 4:7 KJV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I Peter 5:5,6 KJV
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:
