Yes, Jesus did tell Philip, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father,” but don’t leap to a false conclusion here. (See John 14:9). Jesus was not telling Philip that He and the Father were one and the same being, but only that He so perfectly reflected the Father’s character, mind and personality that to see and know Jesus was if you had actually met and been with the Father. In Hebrews 1:3 we learn that Jesus bore the express image of the Father’s person. We are also told in that same verse that after ascending back to heaven Jesus “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Since that moment in time Jesus has served as God the Father’s high priest between God and men.
And when Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” He was not saying they were one and the same being. He was merely saying that they were one in purpose and plan, that they were in total unity in all matters. The very context in which He makes that statement shows that is what He actually meant. (See John 10:27-30). It is in that very same context Jesus says, “My Father…is greater than all,” including Himself!
In Jesus’ high priestly prayer recorded in the 17th chapter of John, Jesus prays that believers “may be one, as we are.” (See John 17:11). Therefore, if Jesus saying “I and the Father are one” meant that He and the Father were one and the same being, then He was praying that believers become one and the same being – no longer individuals. He was merely praying that believers be unified in their beliefs, doctrines and goals, all “speaking the same thing, and that there be no divisions (differing denominations) among you” (See I Corinthians 1:10). Paul would be appalled at the scores of denominations now in Christianity. (Satan is far better at his job than many remotely suspect).
Following His resurrection, Jesus appears to Mary at the garden tomb. Notice what He says to her: “Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go unto my brethren, and say unto them, ‘I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, AND TO MY GOD, and your God.” (See John 20:17). Some might argue, “Well, that was true while Jesus was still on earth and in the flesh, but it is no longer true.” Read on, friend.
Jesus has been back in heaven at the Father’s side for sixty years when He speaks these words to the church at Philadelphia: “Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of MY GOD, and he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of MY GOD, and the name of the city of MY GOD, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from MY GOD, and I will write upon him my new name.” (See Revelation 3:12).
In writing to the Corinthian assembly, the apostle Paul makes a statement that to many modern day believers might sound absurd, even blasphemous. This is what he wrote: “For though there be (many) that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be gods many, and lords many, but to us (Christians) THERE IS BUT ONE GOD, THE FATHER, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge…” (See I Corinthians 8:5-7).
Even today, in the 21st Century, there is not the knowledge among many professing Christians, that there is but one supreme being,, and that is God the Father. Even Jesus conceded, “the Father is greater than I.” (See John 14:29).
The term “Godhead” is found only three times in the scriptures, and it is only the apostle Paul who uses that term. In Acts 17:29 he tells a crowd in Athens, Greece assembled on Mar’s Hill, “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” Now notice that he is speaking of God the Father with that statement as he speaks of our being His offspring, not His brethren!
The next time Paul uses the term “Godhead” is in Romans 1:20, “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Here Paul explains that the Jews were without excuse for rejecting the invisible Supreme Being for a golden calf and later other deities as this invisible God had made the sun they were later driven to worship. (See Ezekiel 8:15-16).
The third and final time we find the term “Godhead” in the scriptures is in Colossians 2:9. Starting with verse 8, we read: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” All the fullness of God the Father was revealed in and through the life and character of Jesus Christ. Many have been mistaught that the term “Godhead” refers to the trinity – God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, when the term always means the Father alone.
In Ephesians 4:4-6, we read these words: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, one Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith, one baptism, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL WHO IS ABOVE ALL (including the Son), and through all, and in you all.”
Peter writes, “Jesus Christ..is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him (by none other than God the Father, the Head of all, the Most High!)” (See I Peter 3:21-22).
Hebrews Chapter One contains more theology than about any other single chapter in the Bible. In the second verse of that chapter we are told that God the Father appointed His Son, Jesus Christ “heir of all things” and that it was by and through Jesus Christ “He made the worlds.” And, in verse 3, we are told that “when He had by Himself purged our sins, (Jesus) sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
When Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, became sin for us He was, at that moment cursed by God. Fellowship with the Father was then severed and He by Himself purged our sins. For fellowship with the Father to be re-established Jesus Christ had to first die thereby paying the penalty for our sins. And, since He was the Creator of all life, His one life sufficed to pay the sin debt of all humanity! Three full days and nights after exhaling His last agonized breath on Calvary, God the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The sin debt of mankind had been paid in full. Fellowship between the Father and Jesus Christ was firmly re-established never to be broken again. (Yes, THAT is what Jesus Christ did for YOU! Think about it).
“Unto which of the angels said He (God the Father) at any time, ‘You are my Son. This day have I begotten Thee.’ And again, “I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son?'” (Hebrews 1:5). Now the implication of the opening words of that verse clearly indicate that Jesus Christ never was an angel. So what was He prior to becoming the Son of God?
Note well the wondrous revelation given in that one short verse of inspired scripture. In saying, “I WILL BE to Him a Father,” it is quite evident that there was a period in time when these two spirit beings did not enjoy such a relationship! There was a time in eternity past that God had no son! That does not mean the Son did not exist in eternity past. But it does mean that in former ages Jesus Christ was not enjoying such a relationship with the Most High, the one and only Supreme Being. (Ever keep in mind that Jesus Himself said that the Father was greater than the Son and over and over again refers to Him as “my GOD!”) And in saying, “This day have I begotten Thee,” the only true God (Paul’s language, remember?) declares that there was a definite moment, or day, when He begat Jesus Christ and that it was from that moment forward Jesus Christ became the Son of God.
Now if any of the above seems like blasphemy to you, then you need to read the scriptures a bit more closely and believe the Bible rather than the traditions of erring men. Jesus Christ can and will reveal to you who the Father is and who the Son is IF you allow Him to speak to you through the scriptures. You might have to let go of a preconceived idea here and there, though, in order for Him to do so.
When God the Father brought His FIRST begotten Son into the world He decreed, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” (See Hebrews 1:6). In that verse we learn two great truths: 1) Jesus is only the FIRST begotten Son of God. There will obviously be more to follow, and 2) The angels of God evidently had not accorded this first begotten Son worship previously or why else would God find it necessary to decree that they do so now. Notice, it does not say God decreed that they should worship the first begotten Son still, which would imply the angels might have thought Jesus’ reduction to the human level meant they were no longer to worship Him though they previously had been doing so.
“But unto the Son He (the Father) says, ‘Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.'” (Hebrews 1:8). Yes, Jesus IS GOD, but He is not the Supreme Being. “You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, therefore God, EVEN THY GOD, has anointed you with the oil of gladness ABOVE YOUR FELLOWS.” (Hebrews 1:9).
Yes, the Father is and always will be greater than the Son. Like you and I, Jesus has a God He worships and obeys. Do not confuse Jesus Christ with God the Father. They are not co-equal. Never forget that long after returning to the Father’s side in heaven Jesus again and again refers to His Father as “MY GOD.” (See Revelation 3:12 once again).
There are two divine beings in heaven, one sitting at the right hand of the other. Jesus made this fact crystal clear during His earthly sojourn when He told the Jews, “It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true (or to be accepted as such). I am one that bears witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me” (See John 8:17-18). One plus one equals two in any language on earth or in heaven. Notice also that Jesus says the Father SENT Him, showing that it is the Father who rules supreme over all and that there are indeed two divine beings.
Jesus said, “I do nothing of myself, but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things. And He that sent me is with me. The Father has not left me alone, for I do always those things that please Him.” (See John 8:28-29). The knowledge of the Father is greater than that of the Son, as the Father teaches the Son! Over and over again Jesus said, “I am not come (to earth) of myself…..He has sent me” (See John 7:28-29).
But just who are just who are these “fellows” of Jesus Christ from whom He was selected and anointed by God to “make the worlds” and then to sacrifice Himself to redeem lost humanity. You might have never once contemplated what you are now reading, so keep an open mind and trust the scriptures. They ARE inspired and trustworthy.
In the ninth verse of Hebrews 1 we learn that the “God” of Jesus Christ anointed Jesus above His “fellows” or companions, using Him to lay the foundation of the earth and fill the heavens with stars and planets (verse 10), and declaring that they would eventually grow old and perish, yet He would never change and His years would never fail. (See verses 11 and 12, Hebrews 1).
The 13th verse of Hebrews 1, echos again the truth first revealed in verse 5 of that same chapter, that Jesus fellows or companions were not angels, for “to which of the angels said He (God the Father) at any time, ‘Sit on my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Are they not all ministering spirits (only), sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (verse 14).
In the fifth verse of chapter 2 in Hebrews it is affirmed once more that Jesus was never an angel prior to His becoming the Son of God as the Father has not put the world to come in subjection to any angel! It is incredible that millions miss this truth that is reiterated again and again in just these two chapters of scripture, for many believe that prior to becoming the Son of God Jesus was an archangel, some think Michael the archangel.
In Hebrews 2:7-8 we are told that God has put ALL things under the subjection of His redeemed children but that such power and rule is still yet future and will not be realized until the redeemed of the Lord have been born again by a resurrection from the dead, thus becoming immortal spirit beings like their Father and Elder Brother Jesus Christ. (Remember, Jesus told Nicodemus “that which is born of the Spirit IS SPIRIT!” See John 3:6). Then we, too, shall be used of God to call forth the dead of ages past.
In taking on human form, Jesus was temporarily made lower than the angels “for the suffering of death,” but has now been elevated to the highest position under the Father, to the very right hand of God, “and to the Son He says, ‘ thy throne O GOD, is for ever and ever.'” (See verse 8, Hebrews 1 once again with Hebrews 2:9).
God is now “bringing many sons unto glory” by perfecting our characters while we, too, live many decades in human flesh with all its pulls and temptations. This process is called “sanctification,” and begins at the moment of our conversion, lasting until the moment of our death. (See Hebrews 2:10-11).
Once again, in the 16th verse of Hebrews 2, we are told that Jesus “took not on Him the nature of angels.” Jesus was never an angel. How many times and in how many ways must God declare this to be true before those who believe Jesus was once an angel rethink themselves and agree that He was not???
But then what was He before coming to earth and taking on “the seed of Abraham” or before becoming human for thirty-three years? We get our first hint of that in the next verse of Hebrews 2, the 17th verse, when we learn that one other reason Jesus Christ was incarnated as a human being was so “that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” To be continued……..
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley