The Servant-Leadership Style of Jesus

What Jesus Taught About Servant-Leadership The gospel of Mark begins by telling about the fundamental characteristics of Jesus as a servant-leader. When one reads the first chapter of Mark, there are some distinctive traits of Christ that are evident. The biblical truths of His teachings are valuable to anyone attempting to serve and lead. Jesus Taught That Servant-Leaders Were Not Self-Promoting (Mark 1:11) As Jesus began His ministry, He made it clear that there was a great power at work. He was/is that power! The fact that He placed Himself under John the Baptist’s care to allow Himself to be baptized showed that Jesus was going to teach His followers that submission does not mean weakness. In fact, this was the first expression in His ministry of what true servant-leadership looks like to other people. In Matthew 3:13-15 the Bible explains in more detail why Jesus began His ministry by not promoting Himself, but instead allowing John to be in charge. Matthew writes these words: “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented” (Matthew 3:13-15). Jesus’ first actions in public ministry were to set a firm foundation for the creation of what a true serving leader should look like. Jesus Taught That Servant-Leaders Were Obedient to the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:12-13) After Jesus was baptized, the gospel writer says, “at once the Spirit sent Him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended Him.” Matthew tells this story of Jesus going into the wilderness in more detail. “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” – Matthew 4:1-11 This intense period of temptation concluded with Jesus proclaiming the aim of His ministry is to serve God “and serve him only” (Matthew 4:11b, emphasis added). Jesus was tested in every way known to man in these three temptations. Interestingly, John the apostle breaks sin into three categories. He writes: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17 All sins that hinder someone from being able to serve God fall into one of these three categories: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Now, consider how Jesus’ temptation and John’s teachings go together: • The lust of the flesh – “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” • The lust of the eyes – “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” • The pride of life – “Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down.’” Jesus had a choice when he was tempted; however, the purpose of His ministry was not to be served, but to fulfill the Father’s plan for Him on earth. Like Jesus, we also have a choice when we are faced with temptations by sins of lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life.