Jesus taught that the “Son” was a lesser being than God the Father. This does not mean that He is a “lesser god,” but He is the one God of Israel—the Father—in a lesser, human form. In the book of John, we read:

“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.  If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.  There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.” (John 5:18-32)

  In this passage, Jesus teaches that the Son is lesser than the Almighty God--not co-equal! As stated, this does not mean that Jesus is a lesser god, but God in the form of a man experiences a lesser human existence.

In this passage, Jesus spoke of God as “another” because the Spirit of God posesses a timeless, Divine “consciousness” different than the human consciousness that occurred in the brain of the Son of Man.

Jesus taught the “Son” can do nothing of Himself. This proves that the term “Son” cannot mean “Deity apart from the incarnation” for God knows all things. The term “Son” must mean: “God incarnate.”

Jesus taught that the Father had already shown the Son all things, yet Jesus also taught that the Son did not know the day of His return. This apparent contradiction is resolved by the fact that Jesus ascended into heaven, which is the one, timeless age of God.

This is also true with the other statements in this text. The Father had given the Son the power to have “life in Himself.” This occurred at the resurrection and glorification of Christ, when the Son was transformed into a new creation. Also, it was after Calvary that God gave the Son the ability to judge all men.

Without question, the Jesus taught in this passage that the “Son” was lesser than the eternal God. This reveals that this term is systemic to the incarnation, it does not imply Deity apart from the incarnation (a co-equal, co-eternal timeless God.)

© 2008 By Russell Redden. All Rights Reserved