Servant Leadership

Servant leadership is at the heart of Christian leadership. Servant leadership is different from servanthood. All Christians are called to be servants, one to another, to follow Jesus' example in washing his disciples' feet, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. Along with that call to servanthood is the need we each have to allow ourselves to receive from Jesus, just as he washed his disciples feet. When Peter protested, Jesus told him, 'Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.' (John 13:8)

Servant leadership goes further to consider the motivation behind our actions as leaders. If personal desire was the sole decision criteria, Jesus would have chosen not to go through the pain and suffering on the cross. In the garden at Gethsemene, Jesus prayed, 'Father if you are willing take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours, be done.'(Luke 22:42) The weight of the burden of taking not only our guilt but also our sins themselves, had become too heavy. Even at this point, Jesus could have got up and walked away. Servant leadership will lead us too, to make sacrifices, to put the needs of others above the direction we may prefer for ourselves.

It is immediately apparent that Jesus chose not to gain influence through using his position as the Son of God, during his earthly ministry. Surrendering his heavenly position to become incarnate is a foundational indication of the humility he displayed throughout his ministry. Whilst the power of the Holy Spirit was at work through him time and time again, Jesus did not assert himself on the basis of his status, but drew people by his personality. There was something about him that was different, challenging and which drew people to him. We can surmise that this magnetism was strongly linked to his values and principles, and to the power of the Holy Spirit working through him, as a result of his relationship with the Father.

In the desert, as he prepared for his earthly ministry, Jesus three times declines to use his position and give in to temptation. At the lakeside, as Jesus called the first disciples we again see him choosing not to use his position. Rather than, 'I am the Son of God - Follow me!' Jesus challenged them to make up their minds on the basis of what they had seen and heard. Above all, as Jesus is arrested, tortured and crucified, he declines to use the legions of angels that could be at his command on the basis of his position.