What about what John 14:28 says?

[tavopr]

Hi,
I was speaking with a friend of mine who is a Jehova’s Witness. We started talking about the Holy Trinity and she told me that they do not believe in the Trinity. As evidence she showed the chapter and verse of John I mentioned in the title. I would like to know how can I respond. I understand that the whole section deals with the Holy Spirit, but I would like to give a more concrete answer.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,
The Prologue of John’s Gospel says it all. It is obvious from the text that John is calling Jesus the Word: “In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, and not one thing had its being but through him (Jn. 1:1-3).

He then speaks of John the Baptist who “was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. The Word was the true light that enlightens all men;” (Jn. 1:8-9)

The Word was with God and the Word WAS God. Jesus is God. This is his divine nature. At a point in time, “The Word was made flesh, he lived among us” (Jn. 1:14). In taking on human flesh, he assumed a human nature so that he is one Person with two natures; a divine nature and a human nature. In his divine nature he is equal to the Father. But in his human nature he defers to the Father. (The Church clarified this at the First Council of Nicea in 325 A.D) So in Jn.14:28 when he says that the Father is greater than he, he is simply speaking from his human nature.

See: newadvent.org/cathen/11044a.htm

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.