By Glen Whiteside, Albuquerque, NM
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:25-28).
In these scriptures, we see Jesus’ response to the request of James and John’s mother as she asked the Lord for her sons to sit at His right and left hand in His kingdom. The other disciples were indignant or angry at the possibility of these two men getting exclusive or exalted positions above them. Jesus, knowing the innermost thoughts, intents, and desires of their hearts, responded by noting the Gentiles’ exercise of dominion and authority over people (e.g., the Egyptian “taskmasters” in Exodus 1:11), with a sober warning that “it shall not be so among you.” Peter would later include, in his own epistle, a warning against dominion over God’s people within the Church. “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3).
The Beatitudes portray the right attitude and spirit of servanthood (Matt. 5:3-16), which Jesus embodied as our model of a true servant. He did not teach by precept only, but by the shining example He portrayed as Lord and Master, yet the servant of all. Scripture commands us to be followers and imitators of God and to follow the example of Jesus Christ. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). It would be wise for every born-again Christian to take a serious and special interest in doing a specific study on Christ to obtain a clear and personal understanding of His attitude, Spirit, words, works, and service. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
Someone has said that the best leaders are true servants. It is evident that the work of the Church is seriously hampered for want of leaders who are willing to serve and suffer. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps… Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21, 23). And Paul gave a precise expression of his attitude and spirit toward serving and suffering for the Church: “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Col. 1:24). This is the very essence of self-denial to take up a cross and follow Christ.
We are living in an appointed hour when we should be moving forward, closer to perfection. In this urgent time, we should no longer be living, loving, and serving like it is “business as usual.” To the slothful, complacent, satisfied, and unwilling within the Church, Amos says: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…” (Amos 6:1). Perhaps the solution can begin with us. As we look into the mirror of the Word, may our Chief Shepherd and supreme example transform our concept of leadership into His own likeness!