Is Jesus the son equal with God the father? (John 14:28)

[Flying Scotsman]

Earlier this week I was speaking to a Jehovah's witness. She brought up this passage, and i cannot explain it. It clearly shows jesus saying that God the father is greater than him;

"I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I"

In the face of this, how can I say that Jesus is equal to God? I know there are other passages that I would believe to show this to be true, although she interprets them in different ways. Please can someone explain to me this passage? and how, in the light of this passage we can still believe that Jesus is equal to God?

[National Intelligence Director Phoenix]

Earlier this week I was speaking to a Jehovah's witness. She brought up this passage, and i cannot explain it. It clearly shows jesus saying that God the father is greater than him;

"I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I"

In the face of this, how can I say that Jesus is equal to God? I know there are other passages that I would believe to show this to be true, although she interprets them in different ways. Please can someone explain to me this passage? and how, in the light of this passage we can still believe that Jesus is equal to God?

Hello Flying Scotsman. Excellent question! Let's get to this one.

First off, we need to clarify that we are speaking of the Father when we say God here. I do sometimes hesitate when we say Jesus is God. Not because of what we mean, but what it could be taken to mean. It could mean one of two things, either of which would be heretical, by someone with a prior viewpoint.

A. Jesus is the Father.

B. Jesus is the Trinity.

Let us say by saying that Jesus is God, what is said in Col. 2:9. Jesus possesses all the attributes of deity bodily and fully. Now. How is this contradicted in John 14:28?

In fact, it isn't. All it says is greater. How? It doesn't say. Let's use some thinking though and realize that there had to be some level of comparison for Jesus to even make these claims. Especially since he had earlier said, "To see me is to see the Father" and "I am in the Father and the Father is in me."

Also, imagine going to a church service and hearing a preacher say, "I want you to know that God is greater than I am." Chances are, you could be sitting in a pew and thinking, "Duh."

So what is the greater? Consider in 1 Cor. 11. Men and women are seen as equals but the man is the head of the woman. The difference is functional and not ontological. (ontology is the study of being.) The Father is higher in the hierarchy in that the Son is submissive to the Father.

Ironically, this shows a relational God who is the embodiment of virtue. We can find in God our example of submission and obedience in the Son to the Father. The humorous point is that when some JWs showed up at my door earlier last year, I managed to pull this verse out on them and say, "See? This supports my view."

Bottom line: There are differences in function. There aren't differences in essence, and this is where the JW errors.

Hope this helps!

[Flying Scotsman]

Hello Flying Scotsman. Excellent question! Let's get to this one.

First off, we need to clarify that we are speaking of the Father when we say God here. I do sometimes hesitate when we say Jesus is God. Not because of what we mean, but what it could be taken to mean. It could mean one of two things, either of which would be heretical, by someone with a prior viewpoint.

A. Jesus is the Father.

B. Jesus is the Trinity.

Let us say by saying that Jesus is God, what is said in Col. 2:9. Jesus possesses all the attributes of deity bodily and fully. Now. How is this contradicted in John 14:28?

In fact, it isn't. All it says is greater. How? It doesn't say. Let's use some thinking though and realize that there had to be some level of comparison for Jesus to even make these claims. Especially since he had earlier said, "To see me is to see the Father" and "I am in the Father and the Father is in me."

Also, imagine going to a church service and hearing a preacher say, "I want you to know that God is greater than I am." Chances are, you could be sitting in a pew and thinking, "Duh."

So what is the greater? Consider in 1 Cor. 11. Men and women are seen as equals but the man is the head of the woman. The difference is functional and not ontological. (ontology is the study of being.) The Father is higher in the hierarchy in that the Son is submissive to the Father.

Ironically, this shows a relational God who is the embodiment of virtue. We can find in God our example of submission and obedience in the Son to the Father. The humorous point is that when some JWs showed up at my door earlier last year, I managed to pull this verse out on them and say, "See? This supports my view."

Bottom line: There are differences in function. There aren't differences in essence, and this is where the JW errors.

Hope this helps!
Thanks ApologiaNick!

That really helps. I was worried people might avoid this passage and just quote other passages which support our view, rather than explaining this passage. I feel confident I understand what Jesus was saying now.