QUESTION:
PER JOHN 14:28, IS JESUS A LESSER GOD THAN THE FATHER?
ANSWER:
In John 14:28, Jesus says, “My Father is greater than I,” but does this mean He is not fully God? Not at all. This statement reflects Jesus’ humility during His earthly mission—not a difference in nature or divinity.
In John 14:28, Jesus said:
“You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.”
At first glance, it might seem like Jesus is saying that He is inferior to the Father in nature. Some might take this as a basis to argue that Jesus is not fully God or that He is somehow a “lesser” divine being. But that conclusion doesn’t hold when we take the whole counsel of Scripture into account.
1. One Verse Cannot Negate the Whole Bible
This is a foundational truth in Bible interpretation: we should never use one verse to cancel out or disregard the rest of Scripture. The Bible is not self-contradictory—it is God-breathed and perfectly harmonious when rightly understood.
John 14:28 must be interpreted alongside other clear statements made by Jesus about His equality with the Father. For example, in John 10:30, Jesus said:
“I and My Father are one.”
This is a direct claim of unity in essence. So, John 14:28 cannot cancel or negate John 10:30. Instead, both verses are true and must be understood in their proper context. The key is qualification.
See also: “Can One Verse Disprove The Rest of What The Bible Says?”
2. “Greater” Refers to Position, Not to Nature
In John 14:28, Jesus was not denying His divine nature. He was speaking from His incarnate position—having humbled Himself and taken on human flesh. As Paul wrote in Philippians 2:6–7:
“Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation…”
Jesus voluntarily placed Himself in a lower position to carry out the work of salvation. The Father remained in heavenly glory, while the Son walked the earth in human form, submitting to the limitations of time, space, suffering, and ultimately death.
In that role, the Father was “greater” in position—but not in divine nature. They are co-equal in essence, eternally united in the Godhead.
3. Scripture Clearly Affirms Jesus’ Deity
In the Gospel of John alone, there are several powerful affirmations of Jesus’ divinity:
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“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
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“All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.” (John 5:23)
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“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
Jesus also accepted worship (Matthew 14:33, John 9:38), forgave sins (Mark 2:5–7), and claimed authority over life and death (John 11:25)—all actions that only God can rightfully perform.
See also: “Is Jesus God?”
4. The Trinity: Equal in Nature, Distinct in Role
The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in essence but distinct in person and role. The Son’s submission to the Father is a matter of role and function—not inferiority in being. Jesus’ humility during His earthly ministry did not diminish His divinity.
See also: “What is The Trinity”
Final Thought
John 14:28 does not teach that Jesus is a lesser god—it affirms His humble position during His earthly mission.
We must remember that no single verse should be used in isolation to form a doctrine that contradicts the rest of Scripture. John 14:28 and John 10:30 are both true; they complement each other when understood rightly. Jesus is fully God, equal with the Father in essence, yet during His earthly ministry, He submitted Himself to the Father’s will out of love and for our redemption.
This truth magnifies—not diminishes—who Jesus is. He is the eternal Son of God who humbled Himself to lift us up.
