"But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth."
In today's quote Jesus, knowing that Judas would betray Him, announced that His betrayer was present and among the twelve chosen Apostles.
After a short discussion of which one the betrayer might be, the conversation turned to who would be the leader of the Apostles in the absence of Jesus.
Jesus then laid down the rules of authority among His Apostles. He said; "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."
Jesus intended that there be no one Apostle in authority over the others, the strongest were to educate and empower the weakest.
This lesson disproves the Roman Catholic contention, as well as the same contention among other groups, that Peter was the leader of the Apostles, and that the Church was subject to the rule only one mortal man.
Jesus was, and still is, the only authority over His Church, He appointed no man to replace Him in that position.
The pomp, ritual, and hypocrisy that was demonstrated by the Pharisees and Sadducees Jesus so despised, is perfectly demonstrated by the historical and continuing pomp and pageantry of the Roman Catholic "Church". They go to great lengths, both in appearance and actions, to exalt one human being over all others.
There is only one man who is to ever be exalted above others, that is Jesus Himself. We, the saved, the body of His Church, are to regard no man as spiritually superior to another. Instead, we are to work together, uplifting each other toward the common goal of spreading the good news of eternal redemption and forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ our Lord.~
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