THE SERVANT-LEADERSHIP MODEL OF JESUS
When the mother of James and John came to Jesus asking that He give them significant leadership roles in His coming kingdom, He didn’t rebuke them. Instead, He asked whether they were able to “drink from the bitter cup of suffering” that He was about to drink. He wanted them to understand the new kingdom model of servant-leadership that they were asking to follow.
Jesus modeled this new kingdom servant-leadership paradigm by washing His disciples feet and then dying on the cross for our sins. To James and John, who aspired to leadership, He didn’t rebuke them, He showed them a better way. Jesus radically changed the world’s leadership model. He turned it upside down.
Those who would follow Jesus are called to a different kind of leadership. They are to lead by serving others, putting others ahead of themselves. In the new kingdom economy of Jesus, serving others is the pathway to greatness. It is the humble that the Father elevates.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we confess our own egos and desire for recognition. We want to lead, but we aren’t willing to pay the price for leadership, which is service. Forgive us. We humble ourselves before You. Strengthen us to serve You today. For our reward is in Your hands. In Jesus’ name, amen.