JESUS HUMBLED HIMSELF

In the Bible, the book which reveals the truth about the hierarchy of authority, it amazes me that the word "authority" only appears in thirty-two verses of ten books in the New Testament.  However, the same word which is translated "authority," is also translated "power" sixty-nine times!  That is not unusual or strange, in that we use the words interchangeably today; the phrase "in power" refers to those who are currently "in authority."

At the time of Creation, it was God's intent that man would rule over the earth.  His exact words were:  "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth" (Gen. 1:26).  But just as Esau would later sell his birthright for a "bowl of stew," Adam sold his for the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:1-34; 25:29-34).  Today, it is Satan that has authority over this world.  The Apostle Paul described him as "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4). 

The "hierarchy of power" in Jesus' day: 
     *     God, the Father (Jn. 3:16).
     *     The Holy Spirit (Mt. 4:1; Lk. 1:35; Acts 5:3-4; 10:38).
     *     The holy angels (Heb. 1:6; 2:7, 9).
     *     Jesus, His obedient Son (Ps. 8:5; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:7-9).
     *     Satan (limited by Almighty God - Job 1:6-12; Lk. 4:8; Heb. 2:14).
     *     Human government (1 Tim. 2:2; Tit. 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13-14).

The "hierarchy of power" when time gives way to eternity:
     *     The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 5:7).
     *     Human government (1 Cor. 6:3).
     *     Angels (Heb. 1:13-14).

The Proud will be humbled; The Humble will be rewarded:
     *     The Proud:  (Ps. 119:78; Isa. 13:11; Mal. 4:1).
     *     The Humble (Mt. 18:4; Jam. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice:

but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn" (Prov. 29:2)!