John 16:28: Jesus' divine origin?
How does John 16:28 affirm Jesus' divine origin and mission on earth?

John 16:28 — Jesus’ One-Sentence Biography

“I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again I leave the world and go to the Father.”


Jesus’ Divine Origin: “I came forth from the Father”

• “Came forth” speaks of conscious pre-existence; Jesus is not beginning at Bethlehem but arriving from eternity (John 1:1-2; 8:58).

• Originating “from the Father” places Him in the very presence of God, sharing the Father’s nature (John 17:5).

• No created being claims this pathway; angels are sent, prophets are called, but only the Son “comes forth” from the Father Himself.


Jesus’ Earthly Mission: “and have come into the world”

• The deliberate descent signals a rescue mission, not a random appearance (John 3:17; 1 John 4:14).

• “Into the world” highlights full identification with humanity—He took on flesh (John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-8).

• His works and words reveal the Father (John 14:9-10), accomplishing redemption through the cross (John 10:11, 18).


The Victor’s Return: “again I leave the world and go to the Father”

• Jesus controls His exit as surely as His entrance, underscoring sovereignty over life, death, and resurrection (John 10:17-18).

• The statement anticipates the ascension (John 20:17; Acts 1:9-11), proving the mission’s success.

• Returning “to the Father” restores the glory that was His “before the world existed” (John 17:5; Hebrews 1:3).


Putting It All Together

• One continuous movement—out from the Father, into the world, back to the Father—marks Jesus as God the Son on mission.

• The verse bundles pre-existence, incarnation, atonement, resurrection, and ascension into a single timeline, affirming both His deity and His saving purpose.

John 16:28 therefore stands as a concise declaration that Jesus’ origin is divine, His mission is redemptive, and His destiny is the throne He never ceased to share.

What is the meaning of John 16:28?
Top of Page
Top of Page