In the King James Version of the Bible, there is a verse that refers to Paul and those with him as “These men who have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).
Jesus has been accused of many things and has been called many things. A fitting title for Him would the One who turned His world upside down. Jesus came into a world that dictated all religious decisions must come from the priests and the religious teachers and rulers; Jesus countered with, “But I tell you.” He came at a time where ritual was of prime importance; He taught we should love one another, and that relationships were of greater importance.
Jesus did turn our world upside down, and one of the areas where He did so was in the understanding of what it means to be a leader.
In the world in which we live—just as it was in the world when Jesus walked among us—leadership equated to power and perks that came with power. We don’t have lords and masters and kings in today’s America, but we do have bosses and elected officials. Since there are no longer lords and kings and masters, should we ignore the passages of the Bible that speak to these positions? Of course not. We simply take those passages and bring them into the employer/employee relationship, and the king is now the president, elected by the will of the people (or, more accurately, the elected Electors of the Electoral College).
Regardless, of the terminology we use to describe those who are in positions of authority, Jesus was very clear that His kingdom was not a place to lord it over others, but a place to serve and minister on behalf of the Father. While bosses and masters and lords have their place, Jesus was very clear that, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:44).
What Exactly is Christ’s Kingdom?
The events that led to Jesus’ proclamation of Mark 10:44 (found in similar form in Matthew 20:20-28) was the request of James and John, the sons of Zebedee and two of Jesus’ first followers, to sit at the right hand of Jesus when He came into His kingdom.
From the moment the disciples understood Jesus to be the Messiah, there was the presumption on their part that Jesus would rise to become king of Israel, throwing off Roman rule and reestablishing the Davidic throne. The presumption was that, like all kingdoms, there would be a court and that the court would have officials. These officials would be the king’s advisors, and they would hold positions of authority and favor in the coming kingdom. It wasn’t until the resurrection that the true meaning of Christ’s kingdom came to them, but for now, they were focused on an earthly kingdom.
So it was that James and John asked to have the two most powerful positions in the kingdom. Jesus told them that such a decision was not His to make, but the Father’s. Specifically, He told them, “These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared” (Mark 10:40b).
When the other disciples heard about the conversation, Jesus had to set things right with them. He told them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servants, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45).
One might think that this ended the discussion among the disciples, but it didn’t. The discussion of who would be greatest in the kingdom carried on until the night that Jesus was betrayed (cf. Luke 22:24).
The disciples had been privileged to see things that no one else did. One of the things Peter, James and John got to witness was the transfiguration of Jesus, when Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on a mountaintop, and Jesus’ “. . . face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 18:2). Having witnessed this event, they then saw the healing of a demon-possessed boy. Jesus was challenged about paying the Temple tax and Peter was given the duty to take care of it, with the money coming from an unexpected place. It was shortly after this that the following passage is written.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 18:1-4).
Jesus’ point here is that the question the disciples should be asking is not what their position will be once the kingdom is established, but the more significant question is how does one enter the kingdom? The idea of humbling oneself like a child is to recognize our complete dependence on the Father, just as a child relies on the parent to provide for his or her wellbeing. Once we have developed that kind of faith, then we are close to entering the kingdom of God.
In short, the kingdom of God is not an earthly reign but one of walking humbly with the Lord our God through our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. And once we enter into that kingdom, then our world is turned upside down, including our concept of what leadership really is.
Jesus is the Example
“’Do you understand what I have done for you?’ He asked them. ‘You call Me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you’” (John 13:12B-15).
As is the case in every aspect of the Christian walk, Jesus sets the example. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and as such, if we want to know what it means to live a consistent kingdom walk, then we must turn to Him first.
Consider Jesus’ ministry and it isn’t very long before we realize that He acted like the boss quite a bit. He delegated duties and responsibilities to His disciples (cf. Luke 10: 1-24; Mark 14:12-13). He took command of situations as the need arose—calming a storm that threatens to swamp a boat, for instance, or feeding 5000 hungry people with a boy’s fish sandwich lunch. All of His instructions were an example of His role as leader.
Yet, in the Gospels there is no real indication of Jesus bossing people around—telling them to do stuff just because He could. Jesus was very careful to live out what He taught. He ministered to the needy, patiently answered the disciples’ questions, explained His parables and did other things that might not be expected of someone who’s the CEO of the organization.
But that’s the point. Jesus was very clear to teach us that leadership in the kingdom of God is not found in lording it over other people, but in serving others. In the above quoted verses from John, Jesus and His disciples had come to the Upper Room to observe what Jesus knew would be His last meal with the beloved disciples. John tells us that Jesus knew the time had come to return to the Father, and He wanted to show them the full extent of His love. Gathering around the table, there was a need in the room. They all had feet covered in dust from the travelling to the room. Each person in the room thought washing feet was beneath them. So Jesus got up from the meal, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into a basin and began washing His disciples’ feet. He met a need that He, as the leader of the group, could easily have ordered someone else to do. (As I write this, I think of a boss expecting someone—some underling—to get coffee for everyone at the conference table.) Jesus saw a need, saw a teaching moment, and brought the two together to stress to His followers that no one is above service, particularly those who are Lord and Teacher.
Paul, writing to the Philippians, urged them, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). The idea is that leadership in our walk with Christ calls upon us to take into consideration the people we are called to lead.
Peter was devastated when he realized he had betrayed Jesus, denying Him before others as Jesus stood trial leading to His crucifixion. The relationship between Peter and His Master was restored on the shores of the Sea of Galilee after Jesus’ resurrection. During the time Jesus spoke with Peter in John 21:15-22, Jesus repeatedly told Peter, “Feed My sheep.” It was a lesson that sunk deep into the repentant Peter. Years later, Peter wrote, “To the elders among you, I appeal to you as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:1-3).
As a pastor, I have had the privilege to know many other pastors. Some (most) I have a great respect for. There are some, however, who seem to think that their churches are lucky to have them. I’ve heard some pastors talk about how they’re the boss of the church and can thus make decisions categorically without consulting the other members of the church (this is very un-Baptistic, and, as I understand it, unbiblical, as well). I’ve seen some pastors who are very smug and come across as someone who expects to have his orders followed and obeyed immediately. I find myself wanting to get away from such men, simply because they seem inconsistent with Jesus’ instructions on Christian leadership.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I know that Christian leaders need to make decisions and do things that come with the job. But Jesus’ examples, Paul’s instructions to the Philippians and Peter’s words to the elders all speak loudly about the need to be a servant first, leading gently and lovingly with a deep concern for the needs of the flock. The Christian leader is someone who looks for ways to serve and, in serving, sees ways to teach, just as Jesus did with the foot-washing episode.
In Part 2, we’ll consider leadership and submission in the family setting. Oh, boy!
(c) 2018 Glynn Beaty