Jesus said to His disciples; "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us"  Jesus didn't make himself equal to God. He made himself of no reputation, in obedience unto death, even  death on the cross. Paul tells us, just like Jesus, seek the lower seat.  Follow Jesus' example, wash feet.  That wasn't striving for equality.

Striving for equality is Korah's errand: "Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?"

A wonderful sort of equality exists for Jesus' disciples if they don't strive for it.  They are equally the redeemed children of their Heavenly Father.