LEADING LIKE JESUS
Larry Schaeffer
Today’s Scripture: “And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’” Mark 10:37, ESV
Theme: We (like the sons of Zebedee) often ask God to give us glory. He reminds us that He wants humble servants, not masters.
JESUS’ GLORY
To be in Jesus’ glory!!
This means to be in the magnificent presence of Jesus’ total splendor and majesty! Jesus is the Son of God the Father, the Creator of the heavens and earth and all its beautiful intricacies; the Creator of you and me in such an intimate and detailed way. He knows the number of hairs on our heads and has unlimited thoughts He wants to share with us.
Let’s be real! That’s a level of splendor and majesty that we can’t totally get our arms around. Yet in the “world system” we live in, a lot of power comes with that level of splendor and majesty. Zebedee and his sons knew it, also. Why not want to be in the Number Two position for such a leader?
PRIDE VERSES HUMILITY
It does not take much reading of the Bible to realize Jesus is not a big fan of prideful people. However, Jesus takes humility to a whole new level. Consider the definition of humility: “Having an accurate view of oneself.” Therefore, what’s wrong with having a desire to be associated with a great leader, or to actually be a great leader, and have the power that comes with that? The apostles sacrificed their careers and normal lives to be Jesus’ disciples. Likewise, people often sacrifice a lot to be leaders in their industry, company, family, or organization. As people grow in their position in this world, so does their power over what is going on around them and the people under them. What is wrong with desiring this and using it to your advantage?
JESUS’S WAY OF LEADING
It does not matter if you are leading a country, state, community, business, organization, ministry, or your family: Jesus told His disciples that He expects it to be done differently. Jesus said that the world’s leaders tend to lord their power over the people that are under them, but if you are following Jesus’ way of leadership, it must be different. You are to be a servant to those within your influence, not lording your power over them.
Jesus sets the God-given standard of leadership, “to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45b, ESV). This is not at all what the disciples expected the King of Kings to establish on His first visit to this earth. To be real, it is not at all what I expect from a person in leadership.
THE TRUTH
Over 2,000 years ago, God’s people expected His first coming to save them. They expected Him to be a powerful leader who would forcibly overthrow those that were against them and who controlled their lives. Not much has changed today. Can we take Jesus’ way of leading and influencing and expect great results? Jesus’ way of leadership is still influencing His people over 2,000 years later.
Interestingly, Jesus explains His leadership style in the book of Matthew: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matthew 16:24-26, NLT). Jesus did not just talk it, He demonstrated how to be the ultimate Servant as He served and mentored the disciples, served Father God in following His will, and died for our sins so that we can have eternity with Him.
Make It Personal: Wow, this style of leadership is so different from the world’s system of using power to control. I lead a business with employees, a ministry with a team of great people, and a family with a bunch of kids and grandkids to top it off. I have gone from leading the world’s way to fully surrendering to Jesus in mid-life and learning how to lead this way. Let’s just say I am a very different leader than I used to be.
I am also a member of a worldwide group called C12 where I am part of a team with 11 other businesspeople who are all learning how to lead our families and businesses this way. We learn, share, and keep each other accountable. I find that praying, serving, and mentoring those that are in my sphere of influence is so much more rewarding than lording control over others.
Pray: God, please give me the honor to feel Your presence in my day with You and to understand the Father’s will for my life. Scripture clearly says if I believe that You are the Son of God and follow You fully, I will know the Father’s will for my life. I want to be a good servant to You, my Creator, Lord, and God. I also want to be a good servant leader to those You have given me, leading the way You lead. Help me, Lord! You know how I can deceive myself and rationalize my doings as good when they’re only serving my own agenda. Lord, You told me that You would help me be transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus, the Great Servant, so may Your will be done, In Your Name, Amen.
Read: Mark 10:35-45
Weekly Memory Verse: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45, ESV