In preparation for his death by crucifixion, Jesus commissioned his disciples to be servants and slaves as LEADERS, not domineering tyrants and dictators like the culture of their day. We read this account in Matthew 20:17-28 where we see Jesus resolving a conflict and commissioning his disciples to a life of servant leadership.
Matthew 20:17-28 (CJB) except for proper names
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves and said to them, as they went on their way, 18 “We are now going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the head Chief Priests and Scribes. They will sentence him to death 19 and turn him over to the Gentiles, who will jeer at him, beat him and execute him on a stake as a criminal. But on the third day, he will be raised.”
20 Then Zebedee;’ sons (James and John) came to Jesus with their mother. She bowed down, begging a favor from him.
21 He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Promise that when you become king, these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You people don’t know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” 23 He said to them, “Yes, you will drink my cup. But to sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give, it is for those for whom my Father has prepared it.”
24 Now when the other ten heard about this, they were outraged at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them and said,
“You know that among the Gentiles, those who are supposed to rule them become tyrants, and their superiors become dictators. 26 Among you, it must not be like that. On the contrary, whoever among you wants to be a leader must become your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave!
28 For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve — and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Servants & slaves vs. tyrants & dictators
How different the life of a servant and slave is from that of a tyrant and dictator. This was not going to be easy. It’s part of the cup the disciples would drink as they spread the gospel of the Kingdom. Look at the difference between these two personas.
chart comparing the ways of servants vs dictators
Five Servant-leader Characteristics
A life of selfless, servant leadership means a leader must live-out certain characteristics. Five important characteristics noted in the Servant-Leader theory that I see in Jesus’ actions this scripture passage include empathy, awareness, persuasion, foresight, and stewardship.
For a general explanation of these five characteristics plus five more (a total of 10) read Ten Characteristics of a Servant-Leader by Larry Spear, CEO of The Spear Center for Servant-Leadership and Robert Greenleaf’s Center for Servant-Leadership.
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