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A common theme is that Jesus IS God, but somehow (it's a mystery apparently) STOPPED being God so he could do lot's of human things like be tempted and die.

• Jesus wasn't the one claiming equality - he never said any such thing.
• He always places the Father above himself. Should we take ONE verse and make it override and contradict all other scripture on this matter?
• John expresses that the Jews were confused, they were angry. Claiming Jesus broke the Sabbath (wrong). They also, wrongly determined, that by Jesus truthfully saying he was God's son, this meant, somehow, that Jesus was equal with God!

• not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the son v22
• the Father who sent him v23
• as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the son also to have life in Himself v26
• I can do nothing on my own v30
• I do not seek my own will but the will of Him who sent me v30
• the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish v36
• I have come in My Father’s name v43

Equal cannot mean two things are exactly the same outside of mathematics. It may predominately mean they share similar experiences, features or power, influence...

All the times when Jesus said, 'I do as the Father does' John 8:38, commands 14:31, or 'I am not doing my will, but the Father's', or many similar statements about Jesus' deferral and obedience to God are ample evidence that Jesus and God are supremely distinct. Jesus being filed with God's holy spirit which enabled him to accomplish his awesome task of redeeming creation.

Yes Jesus shares some commonality with God, his Father. They are equal in some important matters - this enabled Jesus to live as the 'son of God' and triumphantly accomplish his mission. But these few 'equalities' by no means whatsoever make Jesus = God, or to actually be as God as many seem to think when read in a cursory manner without due consideration of some important facts.

Jesus knew exactly how he was the same as his Father. But he also knew his Father was also his God! Having some similarities gave Jesus a heavenly edge that allowed him some latitude and the authority to throw some weight around if he felt the need. He, rightly, chose to take the servant heart, the humble and obedient course, and not of the entitled son!

A common theme is that Jesus IS God, but somehow (it's a mystery apparently) stopped being God so he could do lot's of human things like be tempted and die.

• Jesus wasn't the one claiming equality - he never said any such thing.
• He always places the Father above himself. Should we take ONE verse and make it override and contradict all other scripture on this matter?
• John expresses that the Jews were confused, they were angry. Claiming Jesus broke the Sabbath (wrong). They also, wrongly determined, that by Jesus truthfully saying he was God's son, this meant, somehow, that Jesus was equal with God! Clearly, someone thought this then - but how should we understand this 'equalness'?

• not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the son v22
• the Father who sent him v23
• as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the son also to have life in himself v26
• I can do nothing on my own v30
• I do not seek my own will but the will of Him who sent me v30
• the works which the Father has given me to accomplish v36
• I have come in my Father’s name v43

Equal should not automatically mean two things are exactly the same outside of mathematics. It may predominately mean they share similar experiences, features or power, influence...

All the times when Jesus said, 'I do as the Father does' John 8:38, commands 14:31, or 'I am not doing my will, but the Father's', or many similar statements about Jesus' deferral and obedience to God are ample evidence that Jesus and God are supremely distinct. Jesus being filled with God's holy spirit which enabled him to accomplish his awesome task of redeeming creation.

Yes Jesus shares some commonality with God, his Father. They are equal in some important matters - this enabled Jesus to live as the 'son of God' and triumphantly accomplish his mission. But these few 'equalities' by no means whatsoever make Jesus = God, or to actually be as God as many seem to think when read in a cursory manner without due consideration of some important facts and the abundant scripture to refute a 'Jesus is God' idea.

Jesus knew exactly how he was the same as his Father. But he also knew his Father was also his God! 

Having some similarities gave Jesus a heavenly edge that allowed him some latitude and the authority to throw some weight around if he felt the need. He, rightly, chose to take the servant heart, the humble and obedient course, and not of the entitled son! Jesus having been given the authority by God to speak, to act, to judge in a way that had God's absolute support - they were as one, even equal in this matter.

We will cover some fundamental issues first then get to the significant twist in this matter. We might also note the unbiblical theories abounding in other answers - the more you make stuff up, the more votes you get.

A common theme is that Jesus IS God, but somehow (it's a mystery apparently) STOPPED being God so he could do lot's of human things like be tempted and die. These ideas are more of Harry Potter - the bible has none of it.

Let us not assume what equal means. We can see other uses don't automatically show that the two referents are rendered the same! IOW, by saying he is equal with God - this doesn't make him the same as God. Equality is a relative term and not necessarily to be applied to every aspect.

Jesus was certainly equal with God in some ways. He was without sin and holy. He shared the nature of God as loving, wise, benevolent because he is God's son born outside of the corruption of sin nature all men have from Adam - and that is where the equality ends.

We will cover some fundamental issues first then get to the significant twist in this matter.

A common theme is that Jesus IS God, but somehow (it's a mystery apparently) STOPPED being God so he could do lot's of human things like be tempted and die.

Let us not assume what equal means. We can see other uses don't automatically show that the two referents are rendered the same! IOW, by saying he is equal with God - this doesn't make him the same as God. Equality is a relative term and not necessarily to be applied to every aspect as noted in 3 examples below.

Jesus was certainly equal with God in some ways. He was without sin and holy. He shared the nature of God as loving, wise, benevolent because he is God's son born outside of the corruption of sin nature all men have from Adam - and that is where the equality ends.

A common theme is that Jesus IS God, but somehow (it's a mystery apparently) STOPPED being God so he could do lot's of human things like be tempted and die. These ideas are more Harry Potter - the bible has none of it.

• God is immortal - Jesus was not - he is now.
• God is life - Jesus depended on God for life - twice.
• God cannot be tempted - Jesus could and was (but w/o sin)
• God is all knowing - Jesus was not.
• God is spirit - Jesus said he was not, but has a body with extra abilities.
• God is all powerful - Jesus was not, he relied on God's provision and answered prayer for all he did.
• God is God - Jesus was filled with the fullness of God
• God is God - Jesus was the image of God
• God is Creator - Jesus is declared heir to all things Heb 1:2
• God is God - Jesus is made Lord and Christ
• God has all authority - He gave authority to Jesus

A common theme is that Jesus IS God, but somehow (it's a mystery apparently) STOPPED being God so he could do lot's of human things like be tempted and die. These ideas are more of Harry Potter - the bible has none of it.

• God is immortal - Jesus was not - he is now. Rom 6:9, 1Pet 3:18
• God is life - Jesus depended on God for life - twice.
• God cannot be tempted - Jesus could and was (but w/o sin)
• God is all knowing - Jesus was not.
• God is spirit - Jesus said he was not, but now has a body with spirit life.
• God is all powerful - Jesus was not, he relied on God's provision and answered prayer for all he did.
• God is God - Jesus was filled with the fullness of God
• God is God - Jesus was the image of God
• God is Creator - Jesus is declared heir to all things Heb 1:2
• God is God - Jesus is made Lord and Christ
• God has all authority - He gave authority to Jesus