Please explain the Lord's words in John 14.28: "My Father is greater than I". How does this statement stand in relation to our Lord's deity?
Whatever interpretation we give to these words we must understand that they do not imply any inferiority on the part of our Lord Jesus. The rest of Scripture clearly upholds the doctrine of the deity of Christ. These words do not mean that in some way the Lord is lower than the Father. We have here not the nature or essence of the Son but rather His position or station on earth as the Incarnate Son. Not a few have stumbled over this word "greater", but here we have the Lord speaking as man on earth. Thus in position and station the Father was greater than He. At the same time, as to being and nature He was always one with the Father (Jn 10.30). The Lord Jesus is one with the Father not merely in aim and purpose but in essence and nature. The reference is clearly to His exaltation on ascension. Hence He says, "I go unto my Father". The Lord's words have nothing to do with His nature.
I believe the words have reference to the position of the Son at the time when they were spoken. On this view the eminence of the Father lies in His relation to the Son as incarnate and not yet glorified. This seems to be perfectly consistent with the belief in the equality of the Godhead of the Son with the Godhead of the Father. The remarks of W E Vine on this subject are helpful: "That the Father is 'greater' is not said with regard to the relations in the Persons of the Trinity. The Lord has been speaking of Himself as the One sent by the Father, and the One who fulfils His commandments, the Way that leads to the Father, and the One who reveals the Father. Of all this the Father is the authority and the Object. In all these respects The Father is greater than the Son, but not greater in essence and Godhood".
John J Stubbs
What is the meaning of the words of the Lord spoken in John 12.31: "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out"? Did this take place at the time of the cross?
The thoughts of the Lord Jesus here centre again upon His death. He speaks of His "hour" - "the hour is come" (Jn 12.23); "for this cause came I unto this hour" (Jn 12.27).
In vv.31 and 32, the three consequences of Christ's death are stated. Firstly, the world was judged, "Now is the judgment of this world"; the word "now" points to that which was impending. The judgment of this world does not refer to some opinion expressed by it, but rather to the sentence passed upon it. The world was about to crucify the Lord of life and glory; in so doing, it would condemn itself. There could be nothing other than condemnation for all Christ rejectors, both those who actually determined His death and all since who, by unbelief, have taken sides with them. The death of Christ would seem like a victory for this world, but in reality it would be a judgment of the world.
Secondly, "now shall the prince of this world be cast out". The whole future is present to the mind of Christ and in the confidence of victory He also uses the emphatic "now" of the dethronement of the ruler of this world. The tense of the verb "shall...be cast out" denotes that the casting out of Satan would be gradual. In the light of the words, "that through death he might destroy (annul) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Heb 2.14), it is evident that the devil's hold over this world was broken at the cross. Christ "spoiled principalities and powers", and "made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it" (Col 2.15); this statement is linked with "his cross" (Col 2.14).
The first stage of the "casting out" of Satan took place at the cross; the next will be when he is cast out of heaven. John, foreseeing this event, says, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan...he was cast out into the earth" (Rev 12.9). The third stage will be at the commencement of the millennial reign of Christ, when "the dragon" will be "cast...into the bottomless pit" (Rev 20.2-3). The final stage will be, as John records, when "the devil...was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone" (Rev 20.10). Praise God - the devil is a defeated foe!
The third consequence of the "lifting up" of the Lord Jesus is that He "will draw all men unto" Himself (Jn 12.32).
David E West
