I have promoted a blog, “Jesus Is Lord” for several years in India, the Philippines, nine African countries, and India. More than fifty million have seen it. Not everyone agrees on Jesus’ identity.
Numerous Muslims have commented that Jesus is not God but merely a prophet of Allah. Some used John 14:28 as evidence. “Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am” (John 14:28 NLT). They say Jesus could not be coequal with the Father because the Father is greater than He is.
What did Jesus mean when He said that the Father is greater than I?
Let’s check the context of John 14:28, remembering that a text ripped out of context is usually a pretext for a proof text. Interestingly, in that same chapter, Jesus called God His Father (John 14:2) and Himself the truth and the life (v. 6). Muslims don’t believe either statement. Jesus claimed He could answer prayers (verses 13–14) and live in believers (v. 23), which only God can do. Muslims deny He could do either. Since these truths conflict with their theology, they point only to v. 28.
Jesus said the Father was greater while He was on earth only after He had humbled Himself to become the fully human Lamb of God who would take away the world’s sins.
Jesus used the same word for “greater” in John 14:12. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father” (NLT).
Greater refers to the quantity not quality of His works. Because there were more of them, the disciples would do the same type of miracles Jesus did, but more. They would do greater miracles because Jesus was “going to be with the Father” (v. 12 NLT).
They could pray to Him directly, and He (not the Father) would respond. The Qur’an and Bible teach that prayers must be directed only to God. This was Jesus’ claim to Deity (John 14:13–14).
He must be all-knowing, everywhere present, and all-powerful to answer prayers from everywhere on earth. He promised He, with the Father, would indwell those who love Him and obey His words (John 14:23). He has to be everywhere present to do that. His essence and nature are co-equal with the Father.
How is the Father greater than Jesus? He shares the Father’s divine nature (John 17:5) and did so before the world existed. Yet, while He was on earth, he laid aside that glory (Philippians 2:6–8).
He became Yahweh’s servant to be our Savior, and as a servant, the Father was greater than He in glory and status. When He returns to the Father, He will receive again the glory and status He had voluntarily set aside to come to earth.
Ironically, Muslims select John 14:28 to disprove the Deity of Jesus although John 14 undermines their religion. According to the Qur’an, Allah has no children and is not the Father of Jesus Christ (Qur’an 5:18, 9:30, 6:101, 19:80-93).
Muhammad denied the Father and Son, demonstrating he was not God’s prophet. “And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:22–23). See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians. NLT).1 #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com.
God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship eBook. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 3,150 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 8,661 people. I invite you to check it out.
Comments