Is Jesus "Lesser than the Father"? - A Deeper Look at Jehovah's Witnesses

Last week we looked at the Jehovah's Witnesses' claim that Jesus was the "created one." After a careful examination of Scripture through good hermeneutics and original language, we found the traditional interpretation of Scripture is correct. Jesus is not the "created one." This week we look at the JW's claim that Jesus is "lower than the Father." Let's see how this claim holds up.

According to JW’s, scripture describes Jesus as having stature below that of the Father. JW’s use certain proof texts to manipulate Jesus’ real position. One such passage is John 5:25: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” Here Jesus’ title is Son of God. JW’s believe this title makes Jesus less than or inferior to God the Father.16 The title “Son of God” was used throughout the gospels, so we must be clear in its meaning.  

To understand Jesus’ title as Son of God, one must understand it in context. Without context, it can become a pretext. John 5:18 says, “For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” When Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of God, He was not making Himself less than God. He was making Himself equal or the same as God. If this was not so, why would they desire to kill Him? They would not. Because Jesus was making Himself equal with God in essence and nature, they thought this was blasphemy.17 It is clear that the title Son of God was affirming Jesus’ deity rather than denying it. Mark 14:62 makes it plain that the high priest understood very well that Jesus was claiming deity; this is why he tore his robe.  

JW’s use John 14:28 to demonstrate Jesus was a lesser god: “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” JWs reason that because the Father is greater than Jesus, Jesus has to be a lesser god. The phrase “greater than” comes from the Greek transliterated “meizon.” Meizon does mean greater, but not in a qualitative sense.18 It means great in a quantitative sense. Jesus was not saying God was better than Himself or Jesus was less than in nature. Jesus was referring to His own position to God and not His nature or being. If Jesus had meant a difference in kind, He would not be worthy of worship. If Jesus had meant a qualitative difference, He would be contradicting other Scripture. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the “exact imprint of His nature.”  

This can be thought of in terms of an organizational chart. Companies have CEO’s who are greater than their employees in terms of position or authority. But that CEO is not greater in nature. Each person is of the same essence. There is an understanding and respect of position, but no difference in their nature. The same could be said of a parent and a child. There is a difference in authority or role, but there is not in their nature and essence. This is how Jesus can say “I and the Father are one.”19 Hence the use of the transliterated Greek word “homoousios”- meaning one substance. Their nature is the same. Their roles are different.  

JW’s do not understand John 17:1-2: “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.’” This passage is difficult for JW’s to understand for two reasons: First, they deny the Trinity. Second, they think Jesus prayed to Himself. When one understands the Trinity, the second problem goes away. Orthodox Christians believe that God is one. Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 44:6 and 1 Corinthians 8:4 proclaim this. God coexists in three coequal and eternal persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There are two groupings of Trinitarian texts: first are those that present all three persons of the Godhead.20 Second are those that express the deity of one or another person of the trinity individually.21 Once the JW can embrace or at least acknowledge the potential of the Trinity, it becomes obvious that Jesus was not praying to Himself. Instead, He was praying to God the Father. Pastor John MacArthur wrote, “In His humiliation, first of all, He prayed because He had acknowledged subjection. Secondly, to teach us how to pray, I think. To show us how important it was for us to communicate with the Father…Jesus was in unceasing communion with the Father and yet at the same time He had specific times of specific prayer for specific things.”22 Jesus was in constant communication with God the Father, both verbally and internally.  It was not out of obligation, but out of a desire to be in relationship with the Father. Just like a husband talks with his wife or a woman with her friend. Each communicates out of love and a desire to connect -- not out of compulsion.  

Last, JW’s use Mark 13:31-32 to deny Jesus’ deity because of a lack of knowledge. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” JWs conclude that because Jesus did not know the hour of His return, He was not omniscient and thus He was not Almighty God.23 Scripture obviously contradicts the JW claims. John 7:29, 10:30 and 17:25 make it clear that: Jesus was sent by God. He is God. Jesus’ disciples declared His omniscience. Jesus took on human nature. Human nature is not omniscient. Philippians 2:5-11 show that Christ voluntarily chose to subdue some of His divine characteristics on occasion. Jesus was fully God and fully man.24 He had two natures in His body: divine and human. Jesus became hungry, tired, and grew in knowledge and wisdom.25 Given this dual nature, Jesus’ ignorance regarding His return is not a problem. Perhaps JWs could view this a snapshot into His humanity rather than a denial of His deity.  

Again, after careful examination the JWs viewpoint of Jesus as a lesser god is misguided. Jesus was and is God. With a lack of proper hermeneutics, anyone can create a new interpretation to Scripture. This is unfortunate and can result in apostasy. We have such a case here. But perhaps their third claim will come up with an "affirmative." Next week we'll look at JWs claim that Jesus is really the archangel Michael.