The Leadership Style of JesusSample

Day 7: A Leader Without Followers?

In the early days of the Lord’s Earthly Ministry, no one would have foreseen that this lone Galilean Preacher was launching a Global Spiritual Movement that would span at least two thousand years of history. In fact, marketing experts and public relations strategists might have concluded that he was going about it all wrong.

First, Jesus targeted the wrong demographic group. He should have pitched his Message to the upper classes of Jewish society, where all the influence, power, and money were concentrated. Instead, he wasted his time and effort preaching to the poor, the sick, the despised tax collectors, the political zealots—the very dregs of society.

Second, Jesus alienated the rich and powerful. It wasn’t bad enough that he pitched his Message to the poor and powerless, but he actually went out of his way to stir up conflict with the top echelon of society. The Pharisees and Sadducees and priests could have been influential patrons of his Cause if he had just sidled up to them, flattered them, and tried to win them over as friends and allies.

Third, Jesus was a poor salesman. Successful salespeople know how to highlight the benefits of the product, overcome objections, sweeten the offer, and close the sale. Jesus had a tendency to highlight the costs, provoke objections, and remind people of the drawbacks to following him. He said, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). And, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away” (Matthew 5:29). And, “Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor” (Mark 10:21). Any good salesman would tell you that Jesus would never close the sale with sales pitches like those.

Fourth, Jesus was uncompromising. He didn’t seem to know how the game was played. You have to go along to get along. Sometimes you have to compromise your principles to get closer to your goal. One hand washes the other, you know.

At times it seemed that Jesus didn’t really care if anyone supported his Cause or not. Near the end of John 6, there’s a scene where Jesus, while teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum, talks about being the Bread of Life that comes down from Heaven. He even says, “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” (John 6:54a). Hearing this, many of the people who had been following him were scandalized. They said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” At that point, many of those who had been his disciples turned away and refused to follow him.

After the other disciples left, Jesus turned to the Twelve and said, “Do you want to go away as well?” (John 6:67).

Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).

The Twelve remained. But what if they had abandoned him? What if Jesus had been left all alone, a leader without any followers? I believe that Jesus, though saddened, would have carried on his Ministry. He had come in obedience to save the human race, with or without the support of the people. He would do what he came to do.

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We hope this Plan was helpful to you. You can read more from Michael Youssef in his book,
The Leadership Style of Jesus, available here.