Truly, the genuine exaltation of the Lord Jesus is a fading practice. Over and over, we see the Messianic psalm coming to life: "They only consult to cast him down from his excellency" (Ps 62:4). There is a people who are lifting Him up, but there is also a people who seek to cast Him down! As was the case with the Pharisees, even His very Words are used in seeking this horror: "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk" (Matt 22:15). In fact, entire denominations have sought to label King Jesus as a mere man, void of Divine Godliness, nothing but flesh and bones. But this of course is error. Jesus was God and man; He is the God-Man, the superior Son.
One such instance that people like to use to claim the above noted error is John 14:28. It reads, "...my Father is greater than I". And if this be true, that Jesus is void of real divinity, then all of our salvific hope is in vain! And oh how carnal men would love that to be so.. Thankfully, we know this to be false. Jesus is the ever-precious one, the well Beloved, the eternal "I am", greater than all the mere human fading flowers of the field! He is enthroned as God and King forever, perfectly effecting complete redemption for all who call upon His name!
So what can this small verse mean? How has it perplexed and distraught men for years, even affecting and creating entire heretical denominations? As always, our answer is found in rightly dividing the Word of truth. Interestingly, a conclusion is seen when considering John the Baptist, and in seeing what the Bible says about his positional greatness. Observe..
Without doubt John the Baptist is, in several respects, one of the most remarkable characters that is brought before us in the Bible. He was the subject of Old Testament prophecy (Isa 40); his birth was due to the direct and miraculous intervention of God (Lk 1:7, 13); he was "filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb" (Lk 1:15); he was "a man sent from God" (Jn 1:6); he was sent to prepare the way of the Lord (Matt 3:3). Of him the Lord said, "Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist" (Matt 11:11); the reference being to his "positional greatness", as the forerunner of the Messiah: to him was accorded the high honor of baptizing the Lord Jesus. That Christ was referring to the "positional greatness" of John is clear from His next words, "notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he", and these are the key words to our current observation.. To have a place in the kingdom of heaven will be a more exalted position than to be heralding the King outside of it, as John was. This, we take it is the key to that word in John 14:28, where we find the Lord Jesus saying, "My Father is greater than I" — greater not in His divine person, but in His position; for, at the time the Savior uttered those words He was in the place of subjection, as God’s "Servant-Son". And this humiliation was necessary for salvation to readily occur. If Jesus was ever to be a true forerunner, He must also be a High Priest who can be touched with the feelings of our weaknesses (Heb 4:15). And what is our response to be: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16)!
Friends, in a day and age when men are striving to entangle the Words of the Gospel, let's take heed to it's continual admonition: draw near! For if Jesus really is the Messiah (and we know that He is), then let our lives be wholly given over to Him. Let's lift Him up, even in the presence of those who seek to continually cast Him down from His excellency!
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