Life Walk Lesson 75: A King in the Kingdom of God
This is a lengthier lesson than normal (16 pages) in order to provide you with abundant information from many ancient sources.
Adam was created to rule earth. His sons had families, built cities, and ruled as kings over their regions, right up until the Flood during Noah’s life-time. The first king after the Flood was Nimrod. During the years of his life, Nimrod lived wickedly, and made war with the many families and kingdoms of earth. After the fall of the Tower of Babel, the people changed Nimrod’s name to Amraphel. The complete history of these events can be found not only in the Bible, but also in The Ancient Book of Jasher (also called Sefer-Hayashar, or The Book of Jashar, from which Joshua in the Book of Judges, in the Bible, quotes, besides others).
Let’ begin with God’s original intent for humanity. From the Book of Genesis we know that God created Adam from the dust of the ground.
Genesis 1:26-31
26 “Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’
27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 God blessed them; and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’
29 Then God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; 30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food’; and it was so.
31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
In the 2nd Book of Enoch, God Himself describes to Enoch in greater detail His thoughts, intentions, and actions at that time.
2Enoch 30:10-12
10 “[Friday]. On the sixth day I commanded my wisdom to create man from seven consistencies: one, his flesh from the earth; two, his blood from the dew; three, his eyes from the sun; four, his bones from stone; five, his intelligence from the swiftness of the angels and from cloud; six, his veins and his hair from the grass of the earth; seven, his soul from my breath and from the wind.
11 And I gave him seven natures: to the flesh hearing, the eyes for sight, to the soul smell, the veins for touch, the blood for taste, the bones for endurance, to the intelligence sweetness [enjoyment].
12 I conceived a cunning saying to say, I created man from invisible (spiritual) and from visible (physical) nature, of both are his death and life and image, he knows speech like some created thing, small in greatness and again great in smallness, and I placed him on earth, a second angel, honourable, great and glorious, and I appointed him as ruler to rule on earth and to have my wisdom, and there was none like him of earth of all my existing creatures.”
2Enoch 30:13-14
13 “And I appointed him a name, from the four component parts, from east, from west, from south, from north, and I appointed for him four special stars, and I called his name Adam, and showed him the two ways, the light and the darkness, and I told him:
14 This is good, and that bad, that I should learn whether he has love towards me, or hatred, that it be clear which in his race love me.”
2Enoch 31:1-5
1 “Adam has life on earth, and I created a garden in Eden in the east, that he should observe the testament and keep the command.
2 I made the heavens open to him, that he should see the angels singing the song of victory, and the gloomless light.
3 And he was continuously in paradise, and the devil understood that I wanted to create another world, because Adam was lord on earth, to rule and control it.
4 The devil is the evil spirit of the lower places, as a fugitive he made Sotona from the heavens as his name was Satanail (Satan), thus he became different from the angels, (but his nature) did not change (his) intelligence as far as (his) understanding of righteous and sinful (things).
5 And he understood his condemnation and the sin which he had sinned before, therefore he conceived thought against Adam, in such form he entered and seduced Eva (Eve), but did not touch Adam.6 But I cursed ignorance, but what I had blessed previously, those I did not curse, I cursed not man, nor the earth, nor other creatures, but man’s evil fruit, and his works.
2Enoch 32:1-4
1 “I said to him: Earth you are, and into the earth whence I took you you shalt go, and I will not ruin you, but send you whence I took you. 2 Then I can again receive you at My second presence.
3 And I blessed all my creatures visible (physical) and invisible (spiritual). And Adam was five and half hours in paradise.
4 And I blessed the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, on which he rested from all his works.”
Genesis 2:1-3
“Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created [as]and made.”
The Ancient Book of Jasher 3:9-17
9. “And all the kings of the sons of men, both first and last, together with their princes and judges, came to Enoch when they heard of his wisdom, and they bowed down to him, and they also required of Enoch to reign over them, to which he consented.
10. And they assembled in all, one hundred and thirty kings and princes, and they made Enoch king over them, and they were all under his power and command. 11. And Enoch taught them wisdom, knowledge, and the ways of the Lord ; and he made peace amongst them, and peace was throughout the earth during the life of Enoch. 12. And Enoch reigned over the sons of men two hundred and forty three years, and he did justice and righteousness with all his people, and he led them in the ways of the Lord.
13. And these are the generations of Enoch; Methuselah, Elisha, and Elimelech, three sons ; and their sisters were Melca and Nahmah, and Methuselah lived eighty seven years and he begat Lamech. 14. And it was in the fifty sixth year of the life of Lamech when Adam died; nine hundred and thirty years old was he at his death, and his two sons, with Enoch and Methuselah his son, buried him with great pomp, as at the burial of kings in the cave which God had told him. 15. And in that place all the sons of men made a great mourning and weeping on account of Adam ; it has therefore become a custom among the sons of men to this day. 16. And Adam died because he ate of the tree of knowledge; he and his children after him, as the Lord God had spoken. 17. And it was in the year of Adam's death which was the two hundred and forty third year of the reign of Enoch.
Source: https://archive.org/details/AncientBookOfJasher.1stEd
The Book of the Cave of Treasures, written by St. Ephraim, and translated into English from Syriac by E.A.W. Budge, is a historical account, from the Creation to the Birth of Jesus Christ, established to verify Scripture and the Royal Line from which Jesus was born. The “Cave of Treasures” is the cave referred to in the Ancient Book of Jasher, quoted above, in which the Ancient ones were buried, beginning with Adam.
Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/bct/bct04.htm
The Book of the Cave of Treasures — The Creation. Sixth Day/The Creation of Adam
[The Creation. Sixth Day.]
And on the Sixth Day, which is the Eve of the Sabbath, God formed man out of the dust, and Eve from his rib. And on the Seventh Day God rested from His labours, and it is called "Sabbath."
[The Creation of Adam.]
Now the formation of Adam took place in this wise: On the Sixth Day, which is the Eve of the Sabbath, at the first hour of the day, when quietness was reigning over [Fol. 4b, col. 2] all the Ranks [of the Angels], and the hosts [of heaven], God said, "Come ye, let Us make man in Our image, and according to Our likeness." Now by this word "Us" He maketh known concerning the Glorious Persons [of the Trinity]. And when the angels heard this utterance, they fell into a state of fear and trembling, and they said to one another, "A mighty miracle will be made manifest to us this day [that is to say], the likeness of God, our Maker." And they saw the right hand of God opened out flat, and stretched out over the whole world; and all creatures were collected in the palm of His right hand. And they saw that He took from the whole mass of the earth one grain of dust, and from the whole nature of water one drop of p. 52 water, and from all the air which is above one puff of wind, and from the whole nature of fire a little of its heat and warmth. And the angels saw that when these four feeble (or inert) materials were placed in the palm of His right hand [Fol. 5a, col. 1], that is to say, cold, and heat, and dryness, and moisture, God formed Adam. Now, for what reason did God make Adam out of these four materials unless it were [to show] that everything which is in the world should be in subordination to him through them? He took a grain from the earth in order that everything in nature which is formed of earth should be subject unto him; and a drop of water in order that everything which is in the seas and rivers should be his; and a puff of air so that all kinds [of creatures] which fly in the air might be given unto him; and the heat of fire so that all the beings that are fiery in nature, and the celestial hosts, might be his helpers.
God formed Adam with His holy hands, in His own Image and Likeness, and when the angels saw Adam's glorious appearance they were greatly moved by the beauty thereof. For they saw [Fol. 5a, col. 2] the image of his face burning with glorious splendour like the orb of the sun, and the light of his eyes was like the light of the sun, and the image of his body was like unto the sparkling of crystal. And p. 53 when he rose at full length and stood upright in the centre of the earth, he planted his two feet on that spot whereon was set up the Cross of our Redeemer; for Adam was created in Jerusalem. There he was arrayed in the apparel of sovereignty, and there was the crown of glory set upon his head, there was he made king, and priest, and prophet, there did God make him to sit upon his honourable throne, and there did God give him dominion over all creatures and things. And all the wild beasts, and all the cattle, and the feathered fowl were gathered together, and they passed before Adam and he assigned names to them; and they bowed their heads before him; and everything in nature worshipped him [Fol. 5b, col. 1], and submitted themselves unto him. And the angels and the hosts of heaven heard the Voice of God saying unto him, "Adam, behold; I have made thee king, and priest, and prophet, and lord, and head, and governor of everything which hath been made and created; and they shall be in subjection unto thee, and they shall be thine, and I have given unto thee power over everything which I have created." And when the angels heard this speech they all bowed the knee and worshipped Him.”
[THE REVOLT OF SATAN, AND THE BATTLE IN HEAVEN.]
“And when the prince of the lower order of angels saw what great majesty had been given unto Adam, he was jealous of him from that day, and he did not wish to worship him. And he said unto his hosts, "Ye shall not worship him, and ye shall not praise him with the angels. It is meet that ye should worship me, because I am fire and spirit; and not that I should worship a thing of dust, which hath been fashioned of fine dust." And the Rebel meditating these things [Fol. 5b, col. 2] would not render obedience to God, and of his own free will he asserted his independence and separated himself from God. But he was swept away out of heaven and fell, and the fall of himself and of all his company from heaven took place on the p. 56 Sixth Day, at the second hour of the day. And the apparel of their glorious state was stripped off them. And his name was called "Sâtânâ" because he turned aside [from the right way], and "Shêdâ" because he was cast out, and "Daiwâ" because he lost the apparel of his glory. And behold, from that time until the present day, he and all his hosts have been stripped of their apparel, and they go naked and have horrible faces. And when Sâtânâ was cast out from heaven, Adam was raised up so that he might ascend to Paradise in a chariot of fire. And the angels went before him, singing praises, and the Seraphim ascribed holiness unto him, and the Cherubim ascribed blessing; and amid cries of joy and praises Adam went into [Fol. 6a, col. 1] Paradise. And as soon as Adam entered Paradise he was commanded not to eat of a [certain] tree; his entrance into heaven took place at the third hour of the Eve of the Sabbath (i.e. on Friday morning).”
The Book of the Bee is also a record of historical events from Creation onward, written by Bishop Solomon, in the manner in which a bee goes from flower to flower collecting pollen — historical events are recorded from many sources and accounts, in order to form a varied collection of historical events. In the year 1222 A.D., he was designated a Bishop in al Basra, in the region of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. He was a Nestorian by religious belief, and originally from Armenia. This book was also translated from the Syriac by E.A. Wallis Budge.
Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/bb/index.htm
In chapter 1, he describes God’s intent:
OF GOD'S ETERNAL INTENTION IN RESPECT OF THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE.
“ IT is well for us to take the materials for our discourse from the divine Scriptures, that we may not stray from the straight paths of the way of truth. The blessed David saith, 'Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations, before the mountains were conceived2.' David, the harpist of the Spirit, makes known thereby, that although there was a beginning of the framing of Adam and the other creatures when they were made, yet in the mind of God it had no beginning; that it might not be thought that God has a new thought in respect of anything that is renewed day by day, or that the construction of Creation was newly planned in the mind of God: but everything that He has created and is about to create, even the marvellous construction of the world to come, has been planned from everlasting in the immutable mind of God. As the natural child in the womb of his mother knows not her who bears him, nor is conscious of his father, who, after God, is the cause of his formation; so also Adam, being in the mind of the Creator, knew Him not. And when he was created, and recognized himself as being created, he remained with this knowledge six hours only3, and there came over him a change, from knowledge to p. 7 ignorance and from good to evil. Hence, when Divine Providence wished to create the world, the framing of Adam was first designed and conceived in the mind of God, and then that of the (other) creatures; as David saith, 'Before the mountains were conceived.' Consequently, Adam is older than the (other) creatures in respect of his conception, and the (other) creatures are older than Adam in respect of their birth and their being made. And whereas God created all creatures in silence and by a word, He brought forth Adam out of His thoughts, and formed him with His holy hands, and breathed the breath of life into him from His Spirit, and Adam became a living soul1, and God gave him the knowledge of the difference between good and evil. When he perceived his Creator, then was God formed and conceived within the mind of man; and man became a temple to God his maker, as it is written, 'Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you2?' And again, 'I will dwell in them, and walk in them3.’”
Footnotes
p. 6
1 Chap. ii in the Oxford MS.
2 Ps. xc. 1, 2.
3 See Bezold, *Die Schatzhöhle, p. 7; Brit. Mus. Add. 25, 875, fol. 7 a, col. 2: 'At the third hour they entered Paradise, for three hours they enjoyed the good things, for three hours they were ashamed, and at the ninth hour their expulsion from Paradise took place.’ [*German translation of The Cave of Treasures]
p. 7
1 Gen. ii. 7.
3 2 Cor. vi. 16; Ex. xxix. 45; Lev. xxvi. 12.
The Book of the Bee, CHAPTER XIII3. OF THE FORMATION OF ADAM.
“ ON the Friday, after the making of all created things, God said, 'Come, let us make man in our image and in our likeness4.' The Jews have interpreted the expression 'Come, let us make,' as referring to the angels; though God (adored be His glory!) needs not help from His creatures: but the expositors of the Church indicate the Persons of the adorable Trinity. Some say that when God said 'Come, let us make man in our image and in our likeness,' the angels by the eye of the Spirit saw the right hand (of God) spread out over the whole world, and there were in it parts of all the creatures both spiritual and corporeal. And God took from all these parts5, and fashioned Adam with His holy hands, and breathed into him the breath of life, p. 16 and man became a living soul1. Others say that God took earth from the four quarters of the world2, and formed Adam outside paradise; p. 17 while others say that God fashioned him in the middle of the earth, on the spot where our Lord was crucified, and that there also was p. 18 Adam's skull laid. After God had formed Adam outside Paradise, He brought him in as a king, and made him king over all the creatures, and commanded him to give a name to each of them. God did not gather together unto Adam all cattle, nor (all) that swim in the sea, nor (all) the birds of the air, that he might give them names1; but he received dominion and power over them to make use of them as he pleased, and to give them names, as a master to his slaves. And when God had brought him into Paradise, He commanded him to till it and to guard it. Why did God say 'to till it and to guard it'?--for Paradise needed no guarding, and was adorned with fruit of all kinds, and there was none to injure it--unless it were to exhort him to keep His commandments, and to till it that he might not become a lover of idleness. Because Adam had not seen his own formation, and was not acquainted with the power of his Maker, it was necessary that, when Eve was taken from him in his own likeness, he should perceive his Maker, and should acknowledge that He who made Eve also made him, and that they two were bound to be obedient to Him.”
Another account of the creation of Adam can be found in The Chronicles of Jerahmeel, dealing with the history of the world from Creation to Judas Maccabee, compiled from many ancient writings available to him, by Eleasar ben Asher the Levite, (who lived at the beginning of the 14th Century), and is translated by M. Gaster, Ph.D. It is not only a collection of historical events, a few legends, and sayings, but insights from the ancients and sages, Rabbis, and religious leaders who contribute their understanding and wisdom, from which Eleasar ben Asher quotes. History or Historiale, it is worth the read.
Source: https://archive.org/details/chroniclesofjera00elea
Another account is given in the Kebra Nagast:
The Kebra Nagast, by E.A.W. Budge, [1922], at sacred-texts.com
http://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/kn/index.htm
3. CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF ADAM
“And I go up from Adam and I say, God is King in truth, for Him praise is meet, and He appointed under Him Adam to be king over all that He had created. And He drove him out of the Garden, because of his apostasy through the sin of the Serpent and the plotting of the Devil. And at that sorrowful moment Cain was born, and when Adam saw that the face of Cain was ill-tempered (or, sullen) and his appearance evil he was sad. And then Abel was born, and when Adam saw that his appearance was good and his face good-tempered he said, "This is my son, the heir of my kingdom.”
The Book of Jubilees also has an account of the Creation, and is written from the standpoint of the giving of the Law by the angels, as Stephen testifies in his sermon prior to his martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel.
The Book of Jubilees, (from The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, Volume 2, by R.H. Charles, Oxford, 1913)
In this account, the Archangel Michael is giving the account of the creation of all things to Moses on Mt. Sinai, at the time of the giving of the Law. You will notice as you read it, that the events are counted from day one of creation, (anno mundi — in the year of earth), not as we count the years in our calendar.
Jubilees 2:14-18
“And on the sixth day He created all the animals of the earth, and all cattle, and everything that moves on the earth. And after all this He created man, a man and a woman created He them, and gave him dominion over all that is upon the earth, and in the seas, and over everything that flies, and over beasts and over cattle, and over everything that moves on the earth, and over the whole earth, and over all this He gave him dominion. And these four kinds He created on the sixth day. And there were altogether two and twenty kinds. And He finished all his work on the sixth day—all that is in the heavens and on the earth, and in the seas and in the abysses, and in the light and in the darkness, and in everything. And He gave us a great sign, the Sabbath day, that we should work six days, but keep Sabbath on the seventh day from all work. And all the angels of the presence, and all the angels of sanctification, these two great classes—He hath bidden us to keep the Sabbath with Him in heaven and on earth.”
Source: https://ia800502.us.archive.org/28/items/apocryphapseudep02char/apocryphapseudep02char.pdf
Abundant Proof
With abundant proofs, first from Holy Scripture, and then many corroborating sources, we prove without a shadow of a doubt that God created mankind to rule and have dominion in the earth, over that which God created, in order to maintain it, care for it, and benefit from it, in order to be a blessing, according to what we will see later, in the Book of Genesis, as the Abrahamic Covenant.
God sustains all things by His word, however He has left the dominion of earth to mankind, not the devil; hence, Jesus came to earth, born as a human being, in order to restore that dominion once again, after Adam sinned, to mankind, as was His original intent.
The First King of Israel, recorded in the Book of 1 Samuel, in Chapter 9, was Saul, son of Kish, a descendant of Benjamin, son of Jacob. The nation of Ancient Israel asked to have a king, like the nations around them, instead of God as their King, so God agreed to give them one.
Saul disobeyed God, and David, son of Jesse was anointed King. God promised King David a perpetual royal lineage, which we see culminated in Jesus, called the Son of David by earthly lineage, and the Only Begotten Son of God, as recorded in the Gospels, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
The lineage is recorded both in the Gospels and in The Book of the Cave of Treasures. [Genealogy, and the Birth of Christ: http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/bct/bct09.htm]
God gives us His Kingdom
Luke 12:32
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father in heaven has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.”
Luke 17:20-21
“Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, 'The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.’”
Now, let’s look at the Book of Deuteronomy, for the requirements of a godly King under the Law:
From: Deuteronomy 17:14-20
- Must be God’s choice
- Must be “from among your own brothers” as was Jesus
- Must not acquire a great number of horses for himself (modern application: more vehicles than one has need of, or wealth, especially by “going back to Egypt” — “sin” — for it)
- He must not take many wives; God has one “wife”
- He is to write for himself a copy of the Law and read it all the days of his life so that he will revere the Lord, and have equal esteem for his brothers
- The reward for obedience is a long reign
A King under a New Covenant, under the King of kings
1 Corinthians 4:8
8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.
Revelation 5:10
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
Revelation 15:3
3 “And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!”
Revelation 17:14
14 These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
Revelation 19:16
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
1Timothy 2:1-6
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”
There are several reigning monarchs in the earth at this time, and I believe Paul was admonishing us to pray for earthly monarchs in this context so that we may live peaceful lives. A list of current reigning monarchs can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_sovereign_monarchs
As we love God, love one another, and pray for one another, we also pray for the “kings” in the Kingdom of God — as the Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 2. We are part of a holy Nation, a Royal Priesthood, and are to submit to the Kings God places in authority over us.
In verses 13-17, Peter writes:
13 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
Kings: The Servant Leaders in God’s Kingdom
Proverbs 31:1-9
1 The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:
2 What, O my son? And what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,
5 For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.
8 Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”
John 15:12-14 Disciples’ Relation to Each Other
12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.”
Acceptable behavior before God toward one another
Isaiah 58:6-17
6 “Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke?
7 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 “Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
10 And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.
11 “And the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
12 “Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of the streets in which to dwell.”
Matthew 20:26-29
26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [a]life a ransom for many.”
Luke 22:24-26
24 “And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.”
