Jesus taught His disciples many things while He was on Earth. However, He was going to be leaving them soon. He wanted them to be comforted by the fact that the Father was going to send them the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus who would teach them all things and cause them to remember everything that He had said to them. Isn’t that amazing? That is how Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were able to record the actions and teachings of Jesus so precisely and in such detail. They were guided by the Holy Spirit who inspired them to remember exactly what took place in the life of Jesus and His sayings.
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Pet. 1:20-21)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, (2 Tim. 3:16)
Jesus told His disciples that He was going to be leaving them with His peace. His peace would not be the type of peace man might try to give, a worldly peace. His peace would be from heaven and it would truly give them peace both inwardly and outwardly. He told them not to be troubled or afraid since He was leaving them. He reminded them that He had said He was going to leave them but He would return to them. He told them that if they loved Him they should rejoice because He said He was going to the Father. Why? Because, He said, the Father was greater than He was.
That statement has puzzled many Christians. We know that God is one God but exists as a trinity of the Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Spirit. There is only one God who manifests Himself as three separate divine persons. This is, of course, beyond our finite understanding, but the Scriptures are clear on this matter. All three persons of this Holy Godhead are equal in power, glory, and rank. How then could Jesus say the Father was greater than He was?
To answer this question I’m going to borrow a paragraph from my ebook titled, Did Jesus Christ Claim To Be God?
“When Jesus states that the Father is greater than He is, He is not denying His own deity. As I have already written in this book, while on earth Jesus possessed two natures, one divine and one human. It was in His humanity that the Father was greater than Jesus. Our Lord humbled Himself and became a lowly man. Jesus subordinated Himself to the Father when He came to earth to serve and not be served. In His humility and humanity, He voluntarily for a short time gave up His glory that He had with the Father in eternity past. His glory did break through once in His humanity in His transfiguration on the mount which was witnessed by His disciples, Peter, James, and John.”
Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Matt. 17:1-8)
The disciples should rejoice that He was going to the Father because that would be the only way the Father would send the Holy Spirit to them. We will learn more about the Holy Spirit later in this book.
Jesus had told His disciples all these things that would shortly come to pass. He did this so that they would believe in Him when they saw His sayings come true. He would not be talking with them much longer because the ruler of this world, Satan, would execute his plan to kill Jesus. However, that result would fulfill the plans and prophecies of God. Satan would actually be a tool of God to bring salvation to all of His chosen people. Satan had no part in Christ. He was a created being who chose to rebel against God and would become God’s main enemy. However, Satan is no match for God. He is a condemned criminal and will face certain judgment and eternal torment in the lake of fire.
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Rev. 20:10)
Jesus wanted the world to know that He loves the Father because He obeys the Father’s commands. He would love and obey the Father by dying for those the Father had given Him before the foundation of the world.