Luke 22:24-30

OFFICIAL PROMOTION OF THE TWELVE

Luke 22:24-30. “And there was contention among them as to which one of them seems to be the greater.” Here we have an incontestable illustration rendering conspicuous their imperative need of sanctification. The ambition of the clergy in all the earth, this day, confirms the conclusion that they should tarry at Jerusalem till the coming of the Pentecostal baptism, in sin-consuming flames, to exterminate every vestige of ministerial ambition and Church pride.

“And He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles bear rule over them, and those exercising authority are called benefactors. But you are not so: but let him who is the greater among you, be as the younger; and your leader, as one that serveth. For who is the greater, he that sitteth at the table, or he that serveth? Am I not sitting with you? But I am in the midst of you as One that serveth.” In the spiritual kingdom, promotion means humiliation and labor. The greater your honors, the more humble you become and the more abundant in labor. Thus you see, affairs in the kingdom of God are diametrically opposite to those in the realm of human power. In the latter, promotion means emolument and relief from labor. In the former, it means depth of humility, summary self-sacrifice, and superabundance of labor. These facts are only apprehended by the spiritually illuminated.

“You who have remained with Me in My temptations, I truly appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father hath appointed unto Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit upon thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” We have the same statement, more ample, in Matthew 19:28 : “When the Son of man may sit upon the throne of His glory, you shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Pursuant to the Great Commission, the twelve apostles went to their respective fields of labor, having divided up the world among them into great dioceses. But bloody martyrdom soon released them all for their heavenly home. Here we see that the grand fulfillment of this promise is to be realized when He sits upon the throne of His glory. Of course, He is now sitting upon the mediatorial throne in heaven, and has been on it since the days of Eden; otherwise, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, and the saints and patriarchs of bygone ages, could not have been saved. The incumbency of that glorious throne is to take place here upon the earth, during the Millennial Theocracy, when the saints shall reign subordinately to Christ, the twelve apostles becoming the highest officials in that glorious kingdom.