Introduction
Throughout Scripture, we find a clear order between the one who sends and the one who is sent. InThe Position of the One Who Sends and the One Who Is Sent, we explored how Jesus, the angels, and God’s servants occupy their roles in the divine hierarchy. Jesus stated that the one who is sent is not greater than the one who sent him, and we will see how this truth is manifested in different biblical passages. We will look at examples such as God sending Jesus, Jesus sending angels and disciples, and what this reveals about authority, submission, and purpose in the divine plan.
The Words of Jesus
John 13:16 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.“
Based on Jesus’ words, today we will analyze the position of the one who sends and the one who is sent. According to Christ, the servant and the one who is sent is not greater than his master or the one who sent him! In light of this, what can we learn from the Scriptures?
Revelation 22:16 – “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.“
Luke 1:26 – “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, called Nazareth“
Acts 9:17 – “And Ananias went and entered the house, and laying his hands on him, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.“
In the texts above, Jesus sent his angel, Gabriel was sent by God, and Ananias was sent by Jesus.
Who is Greater, and Who is Smaller
Who sends, and who is sent? What is the position of each?
Jesus is greater than the angel, for Jesus is the one who sent him. The angel is lesser than Jesus, for the angel was sent by him.
God is greater than the angel Gabriel, for God is the one who sent him. The angel Gabriel is lesser than God, for the angel Gabriel was sent by him.
Jesus is greater than Ananias, for Jesus is the one who sent him. Ananias is lesser than Jesus, for Ananias was sent by him.
Jesus Was Sent
The texts above are just a few examples that we find in the Bible of those who send and those who are sent. We all know and agree that God and Jesus are superior to angels and human beings. What we have seen so far is an example of the words of Jesus that we read at the beginning of the study (John 13:16). But there are other texts in the Bible that also talk about this topic. Let’s see:
Matthew 15:24 – “And he (Jesus) answered and said, I was sent only unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.“
Luke 4:43 – “But he (Jesus) said to them, ‘I must preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to other cities also, because for this purpose I was sent.’“
John 17:18 – “As you (Father) sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world“
1 John 4:9 – “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him“
The texts above clearly show us (and there are dozens of texts about this), that God sent Jesus into this world. There is no exception here. Jesus’ rule is the same: “A servant is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him” (John 13:16). When Jesus says several times in Scripture that He was sent by the Father, He is implicitly saying that the Father is greater than He. Jesus did not come to this earth without the consent and will of His Father. He is obedient to the Father, and is in a position below the King of the universe; after all, Jesus is His Son.
The Father is Greater than All
Who does the Father send? The position of the Father is explained by Jesus in the following words:
John 10:29 – “My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.“
Here Jesus stated that the Father “is bigger than all“, and he presented no exception. That is, the Father is greater than Jesus himself. And these words are confirmed in the following verse by Christ’s own words, when he says:
John 14:28 – “You have heard that I said to you, ‘I go away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I go to the Father.’ For my Father is greater than I.“
Some try to explain this verse by the fact that Jesus was in human form, and therefore in a position of submission to the Father, making Himself lesser than Him. But this is not true, because as we have seen, Jesus was sent from heaven to this world, even before His incarnation. He is in submission to the Father and was sent to fulfill God’s will. When Christ spoke these words, “my Father is greater than I“, did not mean that he was less than the Father because he was made flesh, but rather that the Father is greater than all, including his own person, regardless of the time and circumstances in which they find themselves.
Conclusion: The Position of the Sender and the Sent
Before we conclude this study, it is important to emphasize that the fact that Christ does not occupy the highest position in the universe, which belongs solely to the Father, does not take away from the glory that we should give to him, for he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Thanks to his life and sacrifice, we have access to the Father again. To him be the honor and praise for all that he has done for us.
May God bless us!
