If Jesus is GOD, why did He say, “The Father is greater than I” in John 14:28?
It’s understandable that some people would confuse greatness of ROLE with greatness of NATURE (essence)!
The “greatness” spoken of by Jesus in this verse, relates to ROLE, not to NATURE (essence of God).
Interestingly, this chapter (14), is the very chapter where Jesus clearly DECLARES that he shares the SAME NATURE (essence) as the Father!!!
‘Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I AM IN THE FATHER, AND THAT THE FATHER IS IN ME? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:8-10).
It would be blasphemy for anyone or any prophet to claim that if you have seen them you have seen God!
In this chapter, Jesus informs the disciples to PRAY to him after he has ascended to heaven. Prayer is offered only to God. Jesus is confirming that he and the Father have the NATURE of God and that they are ONE “I and my Father are ONE” (John 10:30).
“‘And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14).
Jesus is submissive or subservient to the Father in ROLE and not in NATURE.
Jesus states that the reason for his first coming was to SERVE and not to be SERVED. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be SERVED, but to SERVE, and TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY.” (Mark 10:45)
Jesus being submissive or subservient to the Father in ROLE lies within the nature of the INCARNATION.
The title ‘Son of God’ simply means that the Word (who in essence is God, spirit and eternal) was revealed/manifested/became flesh (INCARNATED) in human form at a point in history by conception through the Holy Spirit.
During the incarnation, Jesus was temporarily “MADE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS” (Hebrews 2:9). However, Jesus is fully DIVINE, too. By taking on human nature, Jesus did not give up His divine nature—God cannot stop being God.
Therefore, subservience in ROLE does not equate to subservience in NATURE. For example, consider an employer/employee relationship. The employer has the right to make demands of the employee, and the employee has the obligation to serve the employer. The roles clearly define a subservient relationship. However, both people ARE STILL HUMAN BEINGS and share in the SAME HUMAN NATURE. There is no difference between the two as to their essence; they stand as equals.
The same can be said of the members of the Godhead . All three members (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are equal: they are all divine in NATURE/essence. However, in the grand plan of salvation, they play certain ROLES, and these roles define authority and submissiveness. The Father commands the Son, and the Father and the Son command the Holy Spirit.