Real Hope: Service & Hospitalityনমুনা

Jesus: Ultimate Leadership Consultant

Servant leadership is a modern management philosophy alongside all the others. You can find books, podcasts, articles and courses about it. But Jesus embodied and extolled servant leadership about two thousand years ago. Not only was Jesus endorsing a topsy-turvy approach to greatness long before management consultants existed, but His way of servant leadership continues to be light-years ahead in terms of selflessness and humility.

After Jesus had taught a lot about how to live in God’s kingdom, disciples James and John demanded to sit beside Him in His glory (Mark 10:35–37). So many of us can still think greatness is about grasping a position of power, authority or status. Jesus’ reaction suggests these disciples were selfishly motivated. We might want to join the other disciples in judging James and John for their apparent arrogance (v 41) but Jesus does not (vv 38–40). Instead, He announces how authority is not something to ‘lord over’ others. It’s serving for the good of others, not others serving your good.

This unceasingly radical way to rule was ultimately epitomised by Jesus giving ‘His life as a ransom for many’. You’ll find no better display of servant leadership. Anywhere. Ever.

Written by BEN MCEACHEN

Want more? Check out the Real Hope Conversations Podcast and delve deeper into the topic of Service & Hospitality. Available wherever you listen to podcasts.