Jesus Acted Like the Father

Many readers of the New Testament have noticed how Jesus often speaks and acts in a manner that strongly resembles the actions of God the Father. These similarities in character, love, and judgment have sparked centuries of discussion regarding the true identity of Jesus. How should we interpret these parallels, and what do they reveal about the bond between Jesus and his Father?

By looking closer at these specific "divine" behaviors, we can explore the depth of their relationship and its implications for believers.

They said to him (Jesus) therefore, “Where is your Father?”
Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.

John 8:19 (ESV)

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father Who glorifies me, of Whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known Him. I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and I keep His word.” -- John 8:55 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

John 14:6-11 (ESV)

When taken out of context, it seems like Jesus claims to be the Father. This is because love means an intimate relationship. This implies you should know Jesus like Jesus knows his Father. However, the Bible also states that "no one has ever seen God" (1 John 4:12 ESV). This suggests that seeing the Father through Jesus is about perceiving God's character rather than seeing his literal person.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.” — John 14:16-17 (ESV)

Just like Jesus received the Holy Spirit, believers will also receive the Holy Spirit.

You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” — John 14:17 (ESV)

When the Father (or at least His Spirit) "dwells with you" (like He did with Jesus), you also get to "know" Him (like Jesus). Therefore, this does not prove that we turn into gods when we receive God's Spirit. Neither did Jesus turn into a god when he received God's Spirit.

Adopting Children

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” — John 14:18 (ESV)

When taken out of context, it seems like Jesus is the Father who will adopt the disciples as his own children. However, Jesus previously said that he is going away. He will prepare them for adoption by his Father.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” — John 14:1-3 (ESV)

Another reason why the disciples won't be left alone is:

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” — John 14:16 (ESV)

Being "in" God

Some scholars argue that only God can be in Himself as the Father is "in" Jesus and Jesus "in" the Father.

I will come to you... In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. — John 14:19,20 (ESV)

When the Father, Jesus and believers live "in" each other, it means they are in close communion (fellowship). When we live in unity with the Father and the Son we will look and act the same.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

John 14:21-23 (ESV)

Jesus continue in the next chapter to explain how this relationship work:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. — John 15:1-10 (ESV)

In other words, when believers "abide in" Jesus or Jesus "lives in" believers, that does not turn them into Jesus. Likewise, Jesus does not turn into God when God lives in him. He does not become God when he submits under God's authority and does His will. Nor does he become God when people get to know the Father through the way Jesus presented the Father to them. This "abiding" is a shared spiritual unity:

By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." — 1 John 4:13 (ESV)

When used in the sense of “in God,” or “in Christ,” the word “in” refers to a close communion, a tight fellowship. It was part of the covenant language of the day, when people spoke of being either “in” or “cut off from” the covenant.

— Morgridge, pp. 116 and 117
— Racovian Catechism, pp. 142 and 143
Spirit & Truth Fellowship International

Jesus also prayed (not to Himself, but to the Father):

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me.

The glory that You have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and You in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent me and loved them even as You loved me.

Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that You have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You, and these know that You have sent me. I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

John 17:20-26 (ESV)

Jesus Speaks Like a Father

Some popular translations like the NIV, CEV, GNT, NAB changes Jesus' words to "My children":

My children, I will be with you only a little longer... — John 13:33 (NIV)

However, that is incorrectly translated according to the Interlinear Bible.

For example other translations like the read KJV, NKJV, NLT, ESV, AMP, LSB, CSB, HCSB, ASV, DRB, ERV, GWT, ISV, MSB, NRSV, NHEB, WEB, YLT, Webster, Weymouth, NET Bible, Berean Bibles, New American Standard Bibles translated Jesus' words to "Little children", "Dear children" or just "children":

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. — John 13:33 (KJV)

or

Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. — John 13:33 (NLT)

Instead, Jesus relate to his audience as "my disciples":

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples ... — John 13:35 (NIV)

Jesus did not adopt disciples as his own children, but instead he prepared them for His Father Who is adopting them.

Jesus Loves as the Father

As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. — John 15:9 (NKJV)

Some argue that no human can love with the same love as God. Therefore, Jesus has to be God the Father Himself. However, John was not comparing the volume of love of Jesus with the volume of love of God to check who loves the most. For example, compare it with other translations.

Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. — John 15:9 (NASB)

Just as the Father set an example to love Jesus, Jesus follows his example to love his disciples. This is also more in alignment with the context of the previous chapter of John 14.

Jesus Judge as the Father

Paul wrote:

We will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

for it is written,

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:10-12 (ESV)

But Paul also wrote:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. — 2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)

There are two issues with this reasoning:

The Lord's Name

People get confused because both God Almighty's name YHVH is replaced with "the Lord" which happens to be what Jesus is also called in the New Testament.

Paul was quoting:

For thus says the LORD,

Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited:

“I am the LORD, and there is no other.

...

For I am God, and there is no other.

I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return,
That to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.

Isaiah 45:18, 22-23 (NKJV)

Therefore, "God" in Romans 14:10-12 does not refer to Jesus, but instead refers to YHVH.

Difference in Judgment

People confuse the judgment of God and Christ. However, these are two different "seats" because:

  • God judge according to righteousness and sin (Genesis 18:25; Psalm 7:8-11, 9:7-8,19, 50:4-6, 67:4, 75:2, 96:10-13, 98:9; Isaiah 3:13-14, 33:22, 51:5; Jeremiah 11:20; Ezekiel 7:3,8,27)
  • Christ judge according to what "has been done in the body" (Matthew 25:31-46)

However, Christ paid for our sin so that we may have eternal life, but those who denies Christ will have to pay themselves.

Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge. — John 8:49-50 (ESV)

Conclusion

In summary, Jesus acted like the Father because he perfectly reflected God's character and obeyed His will. The scriptures show that while Jesus and the Father are in close communion, they remain distinct beings. His role in adopting children and judging humanity is an extension of the authority given to him by the Father, rather than a claim to be the Father himself.

By loving like the Father and speaking with care, Jesus provided a clear path for believers to know and relate to God.