How can Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be said to be equal to the Father? Isn’t the Father superior to the Son? At least as Progenitor and in existence? In human terms, yes. But, in terms of Deity, No. While we think of rank and authority by merely listing the Father first, as in Father, Son and Holy Spirit, it is a mistake to regard them as Father-more important, Son – of next importance, and Holy Spirit – of lesser importance still. We’re not dealing in human terms here. While there is no rank or superiority in the Trinity, there is none-the-less respective positions, or functions, to fulfill. For one member of the Godhead to fulfill a function different from the other, is not to suggest inferiority to the others. It merely signifies function and an agreed-upon role that expresses orderliness. We must view the Trinity and its function by the revelation given of it, and avoid the comparison of it to our human standards.
In several passages of Scripture in the Old Testament prophetically, and, in the New Testament, generally, the roles of the Son and the Father, as well as the Holy Spirit, are described with great clarity. Of all the references, none appears so clearly as those used by John in his gospel repeatedly, as in chapter 5. Christ the Son refers to His Father who sent Him. And, again, in chapter 8, when Jesus said, “And He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” Christ is here telling us there is function and role fulfillment in the Godhead. Yes, “the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” And, yes, the Son was willing to be sent. There were not orders given from the superior to an inferior. There were assignments to fulfill and order was required to carry them out. All was harmonious agreement. The Father gave the Son, the Son was willing to be given, and the offering was also conducted by the Holy Spirit. All were operative and in harmonious agreement. In John 17, Christ said in reference to Himself and His apostles, “The words which Thou gavest Me, I have given to them, and they received them, and truly understood that I came forth from Thee, and they believe that Thou didst send Me.”
Well, did the Father send the Son or didn’t He? Was Jesus truthful or mistaken? Or, worse yet, was He lying? But does not His whole character and being testify to His integrity? Yes! In the role He played, the Son was assuredly subordinate to the Father. It was a subordination of loving willingness and obedience, not of necessity nor inferiority, but of eager compliance that was needed to get the job done. Repeatedly, Christ declared His own supremacy over all while simultaneously extolling the role of His Father in devising salvation’s plan and the Son’s role in carrying it out.
CC-06-04
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