Read John 14:25-31. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
Reflections on the Word.
If we were to answer this question: “What are some biblical or theological questions or concepts that stump us?”, some of us may say the Trinity, reconciling the Bible and Science, God’s sovereignty and man’s free will, or the Christian life. There seems to be some statements in Scripture that is beyond our comprehension and places us in a conundrum in attempting to explain it to non-Christians or even Christians.
How do we understand the statement by Jesus that the Father is greater than himself (vs. 28c)? Depending on one’s view of the Godhead, Christians may think that Jesus is inferior to the Father. Some will hold that Jesus is not God but a created being. Others may think that the Father is greater in the sense that He is in heaven and Jesus is on earth or that the Father is more majestic and awesome than Jesus.
Jesus says this, “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” In the context of this passage, Jesus declares that the Father is the one who will send the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Jesus further states that He does whatever the Father commands Him. Jesus lived in submission to the Father’s authority and will. He did not exert His own will on earth. Thus, the Father is greater in the sense that Jesus, while being fully God and fully man, submitted Himself to the will of the Father.
This is model is also seen in marriage. A wife is called to submit to her husband, her submission doesn’t make her inferior in nature or in beauty. The submission has to do with roles, not personhood. In humble submission, Jesus followed the Father’s will, He took on human flesh, lived a fully godly life and walk the path to be the sacrificial Lamb for sin. One disobedience by Jesus would have disqualified Him from being the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world (I John 2:2). The Heavenly Father commanded Jesus while He lived on earth.
Now as the exalted, risen Lord, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Jesus commands us to make disciples of all ethnic groups of people in this world. Our submission in fulfilling His command doesn’t make us less valuable as His sons and daughters. This is the task that He has set forth for us as His followers.
Jesus lived in obedience to the Father. We are called to live in obedience to Jesus. To do the will of God ought to be the greatest privilege for us. The Father has given us the Holy Spirit to enable us to do the will of God. May we be found in obedience to His will.
-Kingston