If Jesus was God, why did He say 'The Father is greater than I' in John 14:28? How can Jesus be God, and the Father be greater than Him, at the same time?
As all careful Bible students know, any Scripture must be interpreted in the light of all Scriptures bearing on that subject.
1. We know from numerous Scripture that Jesus is Theos = God.
2. We also know from numerous Scripture that Christ willingly and voluntarily made Himself subject to the Father's will while on earth (Heb 10:5-14). He literally became "Jehovah's Servant" (Isa 52:13-15 "Behold my Servant..."), hence in Gethsemane He said
"Not my will, but thine be done".
3. We also know from other Scriptures that there is a "ranking" within the Godhead, where the Father comes first in order of priority, the Son comes next, and the Holy Spirit comes last (Mt 28:19). Thus we read in 1 Corinthians 11: 3 that
"the Head of Christ is God". What exactly does that mean? "Head" is the Greek word
kephale which simply means "head", but in Scripture means "authority". It means that although all three in the Godhead are co-equal and co-eternal,
the Father maintains authority over the Son and over the Holy Spirit. That is why the Son was "given' by the Father as a gift to the world (Jn 3:16) and the Holy Spirit "proceeded" from the Father, and was sent forth by the Son (Jn 15:26).
It is in this context that Christ said "my Father is
greater than I" (Jn 14:28). [Thayer's Lexicon 2.
predicated of rank, as belonging to a. persons, eminent for ability, virtue,
authority, power; as God, and sacred personages].
4. Christ was speaking to His disciples about His departure back to the Father, because
it was the Father who had sent Him, by the Father's authority within the Godhead (Jn 12:49). But so that no one would mistake that for an indication of superiority or inferiority, Christ also said
"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?... Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me..." (Jn 14:10,11). This shows perfect equality.
5. There is no possibility of human beings "explaining" any of this. You either believe it, or you don't. And if one does not believe that Jesus is God (as did the apostle Thomas -- Jn 20:28), then one cannot be saved (Rom 10:9):
"That if thou shalt confess with the mouth the LORD Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved". There is only one meaning for "Lord" and that is God (Heb 1:8-10).