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Philosophy against Misosophy
Jesus Is an Anarchist
James Redford
9. Greatness is in Serving
One of the things which most clearly demonstrates just how different Jesus's Kingdom is to be from the mortal, Earthly kingdoms and governments – and also why we should be very careful to never confuse the two together – is given in the story of when the apostles James and John came to Jesus asking if they may have the favor granted to them of being able to sit on either side of Jesus's throne, one to the right and the other to His left, and this is how Jesus answered them:
Mark 10:42-45: But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (See also Matt. 18:4; 20:25-28 Mark 9:35; Luke 22:26.)
How diametrically opposite the Kingdom of Christ is indeed from that of the mortal, Earthly governments! Thus, when it is claimed herein that Jesus is an "anarchist" it needs to be born in mind that this is in relation to how all mortal governments on Earth have operated. If one wishes to refer to the "Government of Christ" or the "Kingdom of Christ" this is fine so long is one realizes that the Government of Christ will in no sense be an actual government as they exist on Earth and are controlled by mortals.
It needs to also be pointed out here that above in Mark 10:42 Jesus rebukes the supposed "authority" of the Earthly "rulers"! Thus He says of them "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them" – here is clear proof that just because mortals on Earth may consider someone to be a "ruler" does not means that God considers them to be genuine rulers! In the eyes of God, those who are the greatest among men are those who seek to serve their fellow men, not those who seek to be served by their fellow men!
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10. Slaves Obey Your Masters?