Did Jesus know everything? (John 21:17 vs. Mark 13:32)

Understanding the Question

When considering whether Jesus knew everything, two passages frequently come up: John 21:17 and Mark 13:32. In John 21:17, Peter says to Jesus, “Lord, You know all things.” This affirms His omniscience. Yet in Mark 13:32, Jesus says concerning the day or hour of His return, “No one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son— but only the Father.” At first glance, these statements seem contradictory. A thorough exploration, however, shows they are not in conflict but reveal important aspects of Christ’s nature and His relationship within the Godhead.

Scriptural Evidence of Christ’s Omniscience

Multiple passages assert that Jesus possessed divine knowledge. In John 16:30, the disciples declare, “Now we can see that You know all things,” and in Colossians 2:3, we read that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Furthermore, His knowledge of events and hearts demonstrates omniscience:

• In John 2:24–25, it states Jesus “did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.”

• In Luke 5:22, He perceives people’s inner thoughts before they speak.

These examples align with what is shown in John 21:17, where Peter appeals to Jesus’s ability to know “all things.”

The Kenosis and the Distinction of Roles

A key concept that helps reconcile these verses is the doctrine often referred to as the “Kenosis,” derived from Philippians 2:6–7: “[Christ Jesus], existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself...” This does not imply Jesus ceased to be God or lost divine attributes. Rather, it means that in His earthly ministry, He voluntarily set aside the full exercise of certain divine prerogatives and humbled Himself, taking on human form.

During His earthly life, Jesus at times functioned in ways that emphasized His genuine humanity—experiencing hunger (Luke 4:2), fatigue (John 4:6), and limited knowledge in specific details as He taught in real time within a human context (Mark 13:32). Yet He still remained fully divine, evidenced by the many scriptural affirmations of His authority, powers, and attributes that only God possesses.

Resolving Mark 13:32 and John 21:17

Mark 13:32 focuses on a particular moment and subject: “But about that day or hour no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son— but only the Father.” This verse highlights Christ’s mission as fully man, operating under the Father’s authority and timetable in His incarnation.

1. Context of the Passage

The discourse in Mark 13 revolves around eschatology (end-time events). Jesus is explaining signs of His return to instruct and warn. The emphasis falls on God’s authority and the need for vigilance and faith.

2. Voluntary Limitation

Within Jesus’s incarnational ministry, He consistently pointed to the Father’s authority (John 5:19). Declaring that “the Son” did not know in that moment underscores His submission to the Father’s plan and timing, aligning with the Kenosis principle. It does not negate His inherent ability to know, but reveals His humble role in fulfilling redemption.

3. Complete Omniscience Affirmed

John 21:17 and other passages affirm Christ’s comprehensive knowledge. After His resurrection, we repeatedly see demonstrations of that divine omniscience (e.g., appearing suddenly to disciples, reading hearts, prophesying outcomes). Mark 13:32 reflects His relational role with the Father during His earthly mission, while John 21:17 reflects Peter’s recognition of His divine identity.

The Unity of Scripture and Theological Implications

All of Scripture speaks with one voice on Christ’s divine identity. When interpreted holistically, we see:

• Jesus is consistently portrayed as fully God and fully Man (John 1:1, 14; Philippians 2:6–8).

• The incarnation involved a humble, genuine human experience, without Christ ever relinquishing His deity.

• The statements that seem to limit His knowledge point to the voluntary setting aside of immediate use of certain attributes, not their absence.

Early Christian writers, including Church Fathers like Athanasius, affirmed Jesus’s co-equal and co-eternal deity alongside the Father. Manuscript evidence—such as fragments from the 2nd and 3rd centuries (e.g., Papyrus 66, Papyrus 75)—shows the Gospel accounts have been faithfully preserved. Scholars like Dr. Dan Wallace and Dr. James White have extensively demonstrated that variations in manuscripts do not alter the key theological messages of Scripture, including Christ’s divine knowledge and identity.

Historical and Archaeological Corroborations

Though the question about Jesus’s omniscience is primarily theological, historical and archaeological findings reinforce the reliability of the Gospels:

• The discovery of the “Pilate Stone” in Caesarea confirms the existence and role of Pontius Pilate mentioned in the Gospel accounts.

• Excavations at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2) and Pool of Siloam (John 9:7) affirm the geographic and cultural accuracy of John’s Gospel.

• The Dead Sea Scrolls, while older than the New Testament writings, underscore the careful transmission of Hebrew Scripture and provide context for the Messianic expectations that Christ fulfilled.

These discoveries build confidence in the biblical narrative and the trustworthiness of Jesus’s words, including His testimonies about Himself and His knowledge.

Philosophical and Behavioral Perspectives

From a behavioral science viewpoint, the tension between Jesus’s full divinity and genuine humanity illustrates the remarkable unity of the biblical narrative. An omniscient being taking on human form yet choosing to operate within human limits models profound humility and relational empathy—core elements in understanding how God interacts with people.

Philosophically, it underscores the coherence of a Creator engaging the world personally. The consistent biblical claim from Genesis to Revelation is that every aspect of God’s revelation points to His desire to redeem humanity, culminating in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Recognizing His ultimate knowledge and authority while He chose to limit Himself temporarily deepens our understanding of how salvation is brought about for those who trust in Him.

Conclusion

In answer to the question, “Did Jesus know everything?” both John 21:17 and Mark 13:32 can be harmonized when we consider:

• The biblical testimony of Christ’s omniscience.

• His voluntary limitation (Kenosis) during His incarnation.

• The distinction of roles within the Trinity, where Jesus’s temporary self-limitation never compromised His divine nature.

The entirety of Scripture—supported by reliable manuscript evidence and historical corroboration—presents a coherent portrait of Jesus as fully God and fully Man. The passages discussing His knowledge do not contradict each other but reveal different aspects of His divine-human story, displaying both humility in His earthly mission and the abiding reality of His Godhood.