"My Father Is Greater Than I" (John 14:28): Did Jesus Deny His Divine Nature? Absolutely Not.
A Scholarly Theological Examination of John 14:28
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction
One of the most frequently cited passages by those who deny the deity of Christ is John 14:28, where Jesus declared:
"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." (John 14:28, KJV)
Some argue that this statement proves Jesus is a lesser deity, a created being, or merely a prophet. However, such conclusions ignore the immediate context, the broader witness of Scripture, and the doctrine of the Incarnation.
The verse does not deny Christ's deity. Rather, it describes His voluntary humiliation during His earthly ministry as God manifested in human flesh.
The New Testament consistently presents Jesus as both fully God and fully man. John 14:28 speaks from the standpoint of His genuine humanity, not as a denial of His divine identity.
The Context of John 14
John chapters 13–17 record Jesus' farewell discourse before His crucifixion. Throughout this section Jesus repeatedly emphasizes both His unity with the Father and His coming return to the Father.
Only a few verses before John 14:28 Jesus declared:
"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9)
He also said:
"The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (John 14:10)
Therefore, interpreting verse 28 as a denial of Christ's deity creates an immediate contradiction within the same chapter.
The Meaning of "Greater"
The Greek word translated "greater" is meizōn, referring to greatness in position, status, or rank, not necessarily essence or nature.
A king wearing ordinary clothing remains king.
Likewise, during the Incarnation Jesus willingly assumed the position of a servant without surrendering His divine nature.
Paul explains this clearly.
Philippians 2:6–8
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant..."
Notice:
Jesus existed in the form of God.
He possessed equality with God.
He voluntarily humbled Himself.
His humility was functional, not ontological.
The Incarnation Explains the Statement
The Bible teaches that God Himself entered human history.
1 Timothy 3:16
"God was manifest in the flesh..."
Jesus did not become half God and half man.
He was fully God and fully man.
As man He experienced:
Hunger (Matthew 4:2)
Weariness (John 4:6)
Sleep (Mark 4:38)
Sorrow (John 11:35)
Death (John 19:30)
Yet His humanity never diminished His deity.
The Father Dwelling in Christ
Jesus repeatedly explained His relationship with the Father.
John 14:10
"The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
This verse is crucial.
Jesus does not describe Himself as an independent deity working alongside another divine being.
Instead, He identifies the Father as dwelling within Him.
Paul later echoes the same truth.
Colossians 2:9
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Not part of the Godhead.
Not a portion.
All the fullness.
Jesus Spoke from His Genuine Humanity
Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus functioned as the perfect human servant.
Therefore He prayed.
He obeyed.
He suffered.
He learned obedience.
Hebrews 5:8
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience..."
This was not because He lacked deity.
It was because He truly became man.
As man He could honestly say:
"My Father is greater than I."
The eternal Spirit is greater than human flesh.
Jesus Never Denied His Deity
If John 14:28 meant Jesus was not God, numerous passages would become impossible to explain.
Jesus declared:
John 10:30
"I and my Father are one."
Isaiah prophesied concerning the Messiah:
Isaiah 9:6
"His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father..."
Thomas worshiped Jesus after the resurrection.
John 20:28
"My Lord and my God."
The writer of Hebrews records the Father addressing the Son:
Hebrews 1:8
"Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever."
John begins his Gospel by declaring:
John 1:1
"The Word was God."
Later he writes:
John 1:14
"The Word was made flesh."
The consistent testimony of Scripture is that Jesus possesses full deity.
Jesus Returned to the Glory He Had Before the Incarnation
Immediately before His arrest Jesus prayed:
John 17:5
"Glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."
This prayer points to the restoration of the glory associated with His divine existence before His earthly humiliation. His statement in John 14:28 reflects the temporary condition of His incarnate ministry, not a permanent inferiority in His divine identity.
The Humiliation Was Temporary
Paul explains that Christ's humiliation ended in exaltation.
Philippians 2:9–11
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him..."
Every knee will bow.
Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
This fulfills Isaiah 45:23, where every knee bows to Yahweh, showing the New Testament's application of divine honor to Christ.
Theological Summary
John 14:28 does not teach:
That Jesus is a created being.
That Jesus is a lesser God.
That Jesus denied His deity.
That Jesus is eternally inferior in nature.
Rather, it teaches:
The reality of the Incarnation.
Christ's voluntary humiliation.
His genuine humanity.
His submission in His earthly mission.
His return to the glory He shared with the Father.
The distinction is between Christ's humbled human condition and His divine identity, not between a "lesser God" and a "greater God."
Conclusion
When Jesus said,
"My Father is greater than I" (John 14:28),
He was speaking as the incarnate Messiah who had voluntarily taken the form of a servant. His words describe the reality of His earthly humiliation, not a denial of His divine nature.
The same Gospel that records this statement also records Jesus saying:
"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9)
and
"I and my Father are one." (John 10:30)
The apostle Paul confirms:
"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9)
Therefore, John 14:28 cannot be interpreted in isolation. Read within the full witness of Scripture, it affirms the mystery of the Incarnation: the eternal God truly became man, humbled Himself for our redemption, and yet never ceased to possess the fullness of His divine nature.
Jesus was not denying His deity. He was revealing the depth of His humility in becoming flesh for the salvation of humanity.
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