John 14:28

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Ye have heard {G191} how {G3754} I {G1473} said {G2036} unto you {G5213}, I go away {G5217}, and {G2532} come {G2064} again unto {G4314} you {G5209}. If {G1487} ye loved {G25} me {G3165},{G302} ye would rejoice {G5463}, because {G3754} I said {G2036}, I go {G4198} unto {G4314} the Father {G3962}: for {G3754} my {G3450} Father {G3962} is {G2076} greater than {G3187} I {G3450}.

You heard me tell you, ‘I am leaving, and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have been glad that I am going to the Father; because the Father is greater than I.

You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.

Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' profound Farewell Discourse (John chapters 13-17), delivered to His disciples in the Upper Room shortly before His crucifixion. The disciples were troubled by His impending departure, and Jesus sought to comfort and prepare them for what was to come. Here, He reiterates His earlier statement about leaving them and returning, framing it as a cause for joy rather than sorrow.

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Departure and Return: Jesus reminds His disciples of His plan to "go away, and come again unto you." This refers not only to His imminent death and resurrection but also to the coming of the Holy Spirit (His spiritual return) and His ultimate second coming. His departure is a necessary step towards His exaltation and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
  • Love and Rejoicing in God's Plan: Jesus challenges His disciples' sorrow, stating, "If ye loved me, ye would rejoice." Their love for Him should transcend their immediate grief, leading them to rejoice in His triumphant return to the Father. This joy stems from understanding that His departure is not an abandonment but a glorious completion of His earthly ministry and a return to His rightful place.
  • The Father's Supremacy and Jesus' Subordination in Mission: The phrase "for my Father is greater than I" has often been a point of discussion. In the KJV, "greater" translates the Greek word meizon (μείζων), which implies superiority in rank, authority, or position, rather than in essence or divine nature. Within the Trinity, Jesus is fully God and equal with the Father in nature (as affirmed in John 1:1). However, in His incarnate state and redemptive mission, He willingly took on the role of the obedient Son, submitting to the Father's will and authority. His return to the Father signifies the completion of this mission and His re-entry into the full glory He shared with the Father before the world began.

Cross-References & Connections

  • This verse directly references Jesus' earlier promise of return in the same discourse: John 14:3.
  • The concept of Jesus going "unto the Father" is central to His ascension and exaltation, as seen in Acts 1:9 and Philippians 2:9.
  • The disciples' initial sorrow at His departure is evident, but later, after His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, their sorrow turns to joy, fulfilling this very word.

Practical Application

For believers today, John 14:28 offers profound comfort and a call to faith. It reminds us that even in times of loss or uncertainty, our focus should be on God's greater plan. Jesus' departure was not an ending but a transition to His glorified state, from which He continues His work through the Holy Spirit and will one day return. Our true love for Christ should lead us to rejoice in His victory and reign at the Father's side, trusting that His purposes are always good, even when they involve temporary separation or difficulty. This verse encourages us to look beyond our immediate circumstances to the blessed hope of Christ's promised return.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hebrews 2:9

    But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

  • Hebrews 2:15

    And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

  • John 14:18

    I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

  • John 10:29

    My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

  • John 10:30

    I and [my] Father are one.

  • John 20:21

    Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

  • Hebrews 1:2

    Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
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