Jesus' Perfect Obedience, Surely Human, John 8:28

Only God Can Obey God

An Exegesis of Perfect Obedience, Human Failure, and the Uniqueness of Jesus as the Incarnate God

John 8:28, Jesus' Perfect Obedience, Surely Human - Must God Be Disobedient? Must God Be Authoritarian - Disobedient to God's Justice?

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Abstract

This article responds to the objection that Jesus' divinity "depends" on human worship, by showing that God remains God even when not worshiped. By tracing the entirety of Scripture, this article proves that only God Himself can fully obey God—because all prophets, kings, and priests have failed, disobeyed, or did not know God at some point. Jesus, as the incarnate God, demonstrates perfect obedience because He is one with the Father—not because He is a "good man," but because only God can obey God. Thus, Jesus' obedience is not proof that He is "merely human," but rather proof that He is God Himself who came to do the Father's will.

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1. Introduction: God Does Not Depend on Human Worship

Throughout our entire discussion, we have established that:

1. Jesus is Lord (Kyrios)—equal to YHWH (Philippians 2:10-11; John 13:13).

2. Jesus is the incarnate God—God who became man.

3. Birth determines nature—Jesus was born of Mary so He is human, and eternally begotten of the Father so He is God.

4. Isaiah 43:10 and 45:23 affirm the uniqueness and divinity of YHWH, which are applied to Jesus.

However, a fallacious argument arises: "Jesus only becomes God if He is worshiped." This logic is flawed because:

God remains God even if no one worships Him.

Before humanity was created, God was already God.

God does not depend on human acknowledgment to be God.

This article will show that only God can obey God—and Jesus' perfect obedience is proof that He is God Himself.

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2. God Remains God Even When Not Worshiped

2.1. Before Humanity Was Created

Reference | Verse | Meaning

Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | God already existed before there were humans to worship Him.

Psalm 90:2 | "Before the mountains were brought forth... from everlasting to everlasting, you are God." | God is God from eternity—before there were worshipers.

John 17:5 | "Glorify me... with the glory that I had with you before the world existed." | Jesus had glory as God before there were humans.

Formulation: God is God from eternity—long before there were humans to worship Him. His divinity does not depend on human acknowledgment.

2.2. When Humans Do Not Worship God

Reference | Verse | Meaning

Romans 3:10-12 | "No one is righteous... no one seeks for God." | Humans do not worship God in their sin—but God remains God.

Psalm 14:1 | "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" | Even when humans deny God, He remains God.

Romans 1:21 | "They did not honor him as God." | Humans fail to worship God—but God does not cease to be God.

Formulation: God remains God even when humans do not worship Him. Human failure does not diminish His divinity.

2.3. Before Abraham and Israel

Reference | Verse | Meaning

Genesis 12:1-3 | God called Abraham from a people who did not know Him. | God already existed before Abraham knew Him.

Joshua 24:2 | "Long ago your fathers... served other gods." | Israel did not know YHWH in Egypt—but YHWH remained God.

Exodus 3:13-15 | God revealed His name to Moses. | God is I AM—not dependent on Israel's acknowledgment.

Formulation: God is God even before Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Israel knew Him. His divinity does not depend on Israel's choice; Israel's election is grace, not a condition for His divinity.

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3. Only God Can Obey God

3.1. Human Failure in Obedience

Reference | Verse | Meaning

Genesis 3:6 | Adam and Eve disobeyed God. | The first humans failed to obey.

Exodus 32:1-6 | Israel disobeyed by making a golden calf. | The chosen people failed to obey.

Numbers 20:11-12 | Moses disobeyed by striking the rock. | The greatest prophet failed to obey.

1 Samuel 15:10-11 | Saul disobeyed God's command. | The first king failed to obey.

1 Kings 11:1-11 | Solomon disobeyed by worshiping other gods. | The wisest king failed to obey.

Jeremiah 7:25-26 | Israel disobeyed from generation to generation. | The entire nation failed to obey.

Formulation: No human has perfectly obeyed God. All prophets, kings, priests, and the people have failed.

3.2. Prophets: Times When They Did Not Know or Did Not Obey

Prophet | Failure | Reference

Moses | Struck the rock, doubted God. | Numbers 20:11-12

Jeremiah | Complained and doubted his calling. | Jeremiah 1:6; 20:14-18

Elijah | Fled from Jezebel, asked to die. | 1 Kings 19:1-4

Jonah | Fled from God's command. | Jonah 1:1-3

David | Committed adultery and murder. | 2 Samuel 11

Formulation: All prophets at some point did not know or did not obey God. Only Jesus never failed.

3.3. Why Only Jesus Obeyed Perfectly?

Aspect | Jesus | The Prophets

Perfect Obedience | Always did the Father's will. | Not perfect—failed at times.

Knowledge of God | Always connected to the Father. | At times doubted or did not know.

Source of Obedience | God Himself—because He is God. | Human—weak and sinful.

Relationship with the Father | One essence with the Father. | Separated by sin.

Formulation:

"Only God can obey God. Jesus obeyed perfectly not because He was a 'good man,' but because He is God—one with the Father, always connected, never cut off by sin. His obedience is proof of His divinity, not proof that He is 'merely human.'"

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4. John 8:28—"I Only Say What the Father Has Taught Me"

4.1. The Text of John 8:28

"When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me."

4.2. Misunderstandings about John 8:28

Misunderstanding | Explanation

"Jesus is human because He depends on the Father." | Wrong. Jesus depends on the Father as the incarnate God—this is kenosis, not weakness.

"Jesus cannot be God because He was taught by the Father." | Wrong. Jesus is God who became man—in His humanity, He learned and grew (Luke 2:52).

"Jesus is only a 'man' who was sent." | Wrong. Jesus is God who was sent—one with the Father who sent Him.

4.3. Correction of Interpretation: Jesus' Obedience is Proof of His Divinity

Aspect | Explanation

Jesus is the incarnate God. | He is God who became man—and in His humanity, He depended on the Father as an example for us.

Jesus' obedience is perfect. | Unlike the prophets who failed, Jesus always did the Father's will.

Only God can perfectly obey. | Because Jesus is God, He could obey where all humans failed.

Formulation:

"John 8:28 does not show that Jesus is 'merely human.' It shows that Jesus—as the incarnate God—depended on the Father in His humanity to be an example of obedience for us. His obedience is perfect because only God can obey God."

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5. Consequence: Jesus' Obedience as Proof of His Divinity

5.1. Compare Jesus with the Prophets

Aspect | Jesus | The Prophets

Obedience | Perfect—always. | Not perfect—failed at times.

Knowledge of God | Always connected. | At times did not know.

Ability to Obey | God Himself. | Weak humans.

Result of Obedience | Salvation for all. | Did not bring salvation.

5.2. Why Is This Important?

If Jesus Is Only Human | If Jesus Is God

He would have failed to obey like the prophets. | He can perfectly obey—as God.

Salvation would be impossible from Him. | Salvation is God's own act.

His obedience would be a mere moral example. | His obedience is substitution for us.

Formulation:

"Only God can obey God. Because Jesus obeyed perfectly, He is God Himself who came to do the Father's will—not as an ordinary successful man, but as God who humbled Himself to become man and obey unto death."

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6. Conclusion: God Remains God, and Only God Obeys

This article has proven that:

1. God remains God even when not worshiped. His divinity does not depend on human acknowledgment—before humanity was created, when humans do not worship, and before Abraham and Israel knew Him.

2. All prophets, kings, and priests have failed to obey. No human has perfectly obeyed God—all have at some point not known or not done God's will.

3. Only God can obey God. Jesus' perfect obedience is proof of His divinity, not proof that He is "merely human." Because He is God, He could obey where all humans failed.

4. John 8:28 does not deny Jesus' divinity. It shows that Jesus—as the incarnate God—depended on the Father in His humanity to be an example of obedience for us.

5. Jesus' obedience is our salvation. Because Jesus is God, His obedience is perfect and sufficient to replace our disobedience.

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Final Formulation

"God is God—before humanity was created, when humans do not worship Him, and when the nation of Israel did not know Him. His divinity does not depend on our worship; He remains God because He is I AM. And because He is God, only God can obey God. All prophets, kings, and priests have failed—Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah, Jonah, Jeremiah—all have at some point not known, not obeyed, or not done God's will. But Jesus—the incarnate God—obeyed perfectly. He never failed. He always did the Father's will. This is not proof that He is 'merely a good human'; this is proof that He is God Himself who came to save us. His obedience is perfect because only God can obey God. And because His obedience is perfect, we who have failed can be saved through Him. This is holy love—love that cannot be delegated, love that is personally present, love that is faithful unto death, and love that triumphs over death. This is perfect divine monogamy: one God, one Bridegroom, one incarnation, one sacrifice, one salvation, forever and ever."

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Soli Deo Gloria.

Only God can obey God. And Jesus—God who became man—obeyed perfectly for us. To Him, the only wise God, to Him, through Him, and in Him, be all glory forever and ever. Amen.