The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday. It’s the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a borrowed donkey colt that had never been ridden. It’s one of those incidents in Jesus’ life that is recorded by all four Gospel writers. When you read the accounts, it becomes obvious that this was a significant event. This event that we call the triumphal entry was about the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 and other Old Testament prophesies that pointed to Jesus being the Messiah. It was essentially His public claim to be the King of Israel. However, Jesus failed to fulfill the expectations that most of the people had for their King.
They looked for a leader that would deliver them from Rome. They expected that He would exercise His power and authority in the way that kings typically do.
He did not.
For me, this is one of the most important studies of contrast in Jesus’ life. He is the King that willingly became a servant. He doesn’t conquer with power like kings typically do, but with love, grace, mercy and His sacrifice on a cross. He has more power than anyone else, and yet He doesn’t use that power the way we expect Him to. Later that same week after taking the Passover with his Disciples, Jesus demonstrates this servant leadership model again.
Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin.
Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” John 13:15 NLT
Jesus was leading by example. He wanted His disciples to learn something about leadership and power. I am convinced that the lesson Jesus was teaching them, and by extension us, is the most important leadership lesson we can learn today. In fact, I would argue that this model of leadership that Jesus embodied is ultimately the only model that works.
Jesus modeled leadership that was ultimately about serving the greatest need of those He led. The one with the most power and authority leveraged His power for the good of those He led. His leadership wasn’t self-serving or motivated by personal gain. It was selfless, not self-centered.
He knew our greatest need was to be saved, forgiven and redeemed from our sins. So He gives Himself as the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice to meet that need.
Whether the leadership is in the family, a church, an organization, corporation or government entity, those with the most power need to leverage that power for the good of those they lead. A self-centered parent or spouse will not lead well.
A husband who forgets the advice of Ephesians 5 will not lead well. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her... Ephesians 5:25 NLT.
A corporate leader or politician who is more concerned with what’s in it for them, will not lead well. To lead well is to serve. It’s to look beyond self to the needs of those we’re responsible to lead.
Leadership is always to be about the greater good, not the self-serving needs or personal agenda of the leader. If the leader begins to consider self first and make decisions based on personal gain or comfort, rather than organizational good, leadership has ceased to be what it should be and the impact on the entity being led will be negative.
So, how about we take Jesus’ advice and follow His example?
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Editor’s note: Al Fowler is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Pea Ridge. He can be contacted at 451-8192, or by e-mail at [email protected].
Church, Pages 2 on 04/03/2013