OBST830: Discussion Board
Angelology
Anthropology
Apologetics
Bibliology
Christology
Ecclesiology
Eschatology
Ethics
Hamartiology
History
Homilie
OBST830: Prophets I
Pneumatology
Soteriology
Theology Proper

The Divine Harmony of Submission: Understanding Why Jesus Submits to the Father

October 08, 2024 Christology

Man_and_God_Silhouetto_GReat_Detail_Black_on_Black_1706752067

The Divine Harmony of Submission: Understanding Why Jesus Submits to the Father

The question of why Jesus, though fully God, acts in submission to the Father, is not only one of theological depth but also of profound spiritual significance. It draws us into the very heart of the Gospel, revealing the nature of Christ’s mission and the model He sets before us as children of God. At first glance, it may seem perplexing: if Jesus is truly divine, why does He speak and act as if He is subordinate to the Father? This seeming paradox invites us to reflect more deeply on the relationship between the Father and the Son, and what it means for those of us who follow Christ.

The Incarnation and Jesus’ Mission

To understand this, we must first grasp the nature of the Incarnation. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, tells us that Jesus, though “in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6-7). Instead, He “emptied Himself” and took on the form of a servant. Here lies the key: in becoming human, Jesus chose to embrace the role of a servant. He did not cease to be God, but He willingly submitted Himself to the Father’s will. His submission was not an indication of inferiority, but of His role as the one who perfectly reveals the Father.

In this, we see Jesus’ submission as part of His mission. He came not to assert His own will but to do the will of Him who sent Him (John 6:38). This obedience to the Father is the perfect expression of His love for the Father and for humanity. In this way, Jesus’ submission serves not only as the means by which He accomplishes our salvation but also as the pattern for how we are to live in relationship with God.

The Revelation of the Father

One of the central purposes of Jesus’ ministry was to reveal the Father. In John’s Gospel, Jesus often speaks of being sent by the Father, declaring what He has heard from Him. John 1:18 tells us, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, He has made Him known.” Jesus, in His earthly ministry, directs attention to the Father because He is the perfect revelation of the Father. His words and actions are not His own, but those of the Father, who sent Him. In submitting to the Father, Jesus is showing us the very nature of God Himself—a God who is, at the core, relational, loving, and self-giving.

Jesus does not diminish His own authority by pointing to the Father; rather, He underscores the divine unity between Himself and the Father. As He declares in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” In His submission, He reveals the mystery of the Trinity: distinct persons, yet one in essence, working together in perfect harmony for the salvation of humanity.

Jesus as Our Example

But perhaps the most illuminating aspect of Jesus’ submission is the example it sets for us. We, too, are called to be children of God, “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). Jesus’ life of perfect submission to the Father serves as a model for how we, as adopted sons and daughters, should relate to God. It is not merely about obeying rules, but about cultivating a relationship of trust, dependence, and love with our heavenly Father.

Jesus’ submission is not passive or reluctant—it is the joyful expression of His trust in the Father’s goodness and plan. This is seen most poignantly in the Garden of Gethsemane, where, facing the cross, Jesus prays, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Even in the face of suffering, Jesus demonstrates the kind of surrender that springs from a deep and abiding trust in the Father’s love. As children of God, we are called to this same kind of trust, confident that our Father’s will is always good, even when it leads through trials.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

In following Christ’s example, we are not left to our own devices. Jesus’ submission to the Father was empowered by the Holy Spirit, and so too is ours. At His baptism, the Spirit descended on Jesus, marking the beginning of His public ministry (Matthew 3:16). Throughout His earthly life, Jesus was led by the Spirit, and in His humanity, He relied on the Spirit’s power to fulfill His mission.

As believers, we are given the same Spirit, who dwells in us and enables us to live in obedience to the Father. Paul reminds us that “all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Just as Jesus lived in perfect submission through the Spirit, we, too, are called to live by the Spirit, allowing Him to guide us into the fullness of life as children of God.

The Mystery of Divine Submission

In the end, Jesus’ submission to the Father is not a contradiction of His divinity, but a revelation of what it means to be truly divine. It is a picture of divine love, where authority and submission are not in opposition, but are expressions of perfect unity and self-giving. This is the life into which we are invited—the life of communion with the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Spirit.

To follow Christ is to enter into this mystery of submission, not as a burdensome duty, but as the path to true freedom and joy. In submitting to the Father, we find our true identity as sons and daughters of God, heirs of His kingdom, and participants in the life of the Trinity. Jesus’ life shows us the way, and by His Spirit, we are empowered to walk in it.

Thus, the question of why Jesus acts in submission to the Father leads us not to confusion, but to wonder. For in His submission, we see the heart of God laid bare—a heart that loves, gives, and calls us into the same relationship of trust and obedience. And in this, we find not only the answer to our question but the deepest longing of our souls.

Chaplain WHITEHORN
I'm honored to serve as the State Prison Chaplain at Avon Park Correctional Institution. My journey into ministry was deeply shaped by my military experience as a Combat Veteran Sergeant and later as an Officer in the U.S. Army. Alongside my military career, I've pursued a lifelong passion for theology and scholarship, beginning with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Crichton College. I continued advanced studies at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, earned a Master of Divinity from Liberty University, and I'm currently completing my Ph.D., driven by a desire to understand and faithfully communicate God’s Word.

3/16/26

The Divine Harmony of Submission: Understanding Why Jesus Submits to the Father

About me

Support This Ministry

Developing A Trinitarian Open Theism