Early in the Johannine farewell discourse, Jesus engages with his disciples, who are clearly troubled by his impending departure; so Jesus explains the reason for his going away from them. He tells them:
‘You heard me say, “I am going away and I am coming back to you.” If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.’
(John 14:28)
The point is that the disciples should rejoice over his departure to the Father. For Jesus goes to prepare a place for them and intends to send them the Comforter in his absence. Further, their joy should resound because the Father is greater than he. Jesus himself is the Son, one sent by the Father, but the Father who sends him is sovereign and supreme.
This verse is often treated as a clear instance of christological subordinationism, ontological inferiority, and an example of Jesus existing in a lower mode of divine status. This verse, John 14:28, along with Col 1:15 (“firstborn of all creation”) and 1 Cor 15:24-28 (“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power … When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all”) are among the main proof-texts for a subordinationist christology.
Do we have here a clear instance of Arianism, eternal functional subordinationism, or Jesus the Son as a god but not really divine with the God?