John 14:28; Philippians 2:5-11

          The last provision of Christ in John 14 is a proper perspective.

          Often our success or satisfaction in life is found, not in changing our circumstances, but in changing the way we look at those circumstances.  We see that in this passage.

          Jesus has told his disciples He is going away; that has not changed.  But He has also given them great and precious promises.  Therefore in this passage He calls them to reconsider their situation, looking at it in light of those promises.

          – The new perspective will see joy instead of sorrow, v28.

          Christ’s departure no longer means certain failure for the disciples.  Christ has provided for them.  Thus they can look at His departure and see Christ in His exaltation and rejoice for Him.  Further, in returning to heaven Christ will then bring about the promised provisions. 

          This verse has been abused by some since Christ refers to His Father as “greater”.  They make this to indicate Christ being “less than” the Father and thus not truly God, not truly identified with the Father as claimed earlier (14:9-11).

          As we noted, however, Christ is the same “essence” as the Father.  This verse deals with position, not essence.  In the trinity there is both equality and submission.  As the Father sends the Holy Spirit (v16,26), so Christ was obedient to the Father.  Consider how these truths about Christ show obedience and submission to the Father:

1.     He is the Incarnate One (Phil. 2:5-7); He humbled Himself, leaving the glory of heaven to become a man to die on the cross.

2.     He is the Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5-6) the man Christ Jesus who is between God and man.

3.     He is the Servant (John 17:4-5) completing the work His Father gave Him to do.

4.     He is the Sin-bearer (1 Peter 2:24), so identified with our sins that His Father forsook Him on the cross.

Each of these roles carried out by our Lord required His submission to the Father.  While still God, Jesus submitted Himself to the will of His Father, even to death on the cross.

          And now He has returned to the glorious place.  That should be a cause for rejoicing on the part of the disciple.