Only the Father Knows

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only (Matthew 24:36).

Mark 13:32-33, But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. These verses provide another difficulty in interpreting Scripture regarding the 2nd coming of Christ. Since Jesus is God incarnate, and God knows all things, then why didn’t Jesus know the day and hour of His return? How was it possible for Jesus Christ not to know this? How could He have been ignorant of anything in light of John 1:1-18?

When the Son of God became the Son of Man, He remained fully God while He took on a true human nature. Jesus retained all the attributes of divinity, yet, as a man, He voluntarily restricted their use. This was part of the ‘made Himself of no reputation’ or self-renunciation in Philippians 2:6-8. What is meant in the passages is that when Christ became incarnate man, He set aside certain privileges and prerogatives that He had in heaven. In His humanity He willingly became subject to the authority and will of God the Father in all things - His knowledge, power, will, etc. As the Son of Man, He veiled (hid; restricted) His glory to occupy the position of a servant.

This is understood in Hebrews 2:6-7,9 which states, What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of Him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. These verses do not speak of the Son of Man (the Messiah), but of humanity in general. However, v. 9 speaks of the Son of Man in His humanity. . . But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. Clearly the fullness of deity had been augmented in His humanity - He was made a little lower than the angels. Certain rights and privileges were willingly set aside by Him in the flesh. We see this throughout the Gospels.

The divine nature remained omniscient (all knowing), but the human nature was subject to limitations in knowledge. He knew the thoughts of men when the Spirit gave Him that understanding. He knew the time and place and persons responsible for His crucifixion because the Spirit gave Him that understanding. But some things were not revealed to Him. So, Jesus’ statement of ignorance regarding the day and hour of His return was the result of His human nature which was limited in knowledge. His human mind did not know the timing of His return because that knowledge hadn’t been given to Him by the Father at that time. He knows these things now because the fullness of His glory was restored to Him in the resurrection (John 17:5).

Some things Jesus did not know according to His human nature, yet He was, and is God. Ignorance of those things in His humanity proves to us He knows what it is like to be human and can empathize with us in our ignorance. Therefore, we do not need to be afraid to bring any of our concerns to Him in prayer. Amen.

Pastor