The Heart of Servant Leadership

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:24-30).

I have become more convinced through the years that the simplest yet most profound definition of discipleship is becoming more like Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit offers this definition through the pen of the Apostle Paul… “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). In today’s scripture, we observe the very natural reaction of the disciples to Christ’s discussion of the coming kingdom of God. Their immediate thoughts turned to how they will rank in position and power in the kingdom. They missed the point about how Christ’s supremacy in the kingdom would be established through humility and sacrifice. Jesus promised the disciples that they would indeed inherit important positions of authority and judgment in the kingdom, but He discerned and used the immature and selfish condition of their hearts to show them that the requirement for government in God’s kingdom is the heart of servant leadership.

The servant leader provides for others first. This is not the first time we hear the sentiment of Jesus’ words… “But I am among you as the one who serves”. Jesus was prompting them to recall what He had declared to them in the midst of the ministry and in response to a similar discussion between James and John… “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He had most recently illustrated this lesson earlier in this evening by humbling Himself and washing their feet right here at this very table. Jesus had punctuated the lesson with the command to imitate His servant leader’s heart… “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). As we mature in the faith, selfishness is replaced by compassion and we become a clearer reflection of our Master’s heart of servant leadership.

The servant leader promotes loyalty through trials. Listen again closely to His words… “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials”. The emphasis is on “stayed with me”. In light of the foolish concern about power and position in the coming kingdom, Christ called the disciples back to a fresh commitment to Him. Even the most determined disciples are vulnerable to subtly losing our focus. Sometimes we get our hearts connected to people, places, or things other than Jesus Christ Himself. Many of us go to a particular church or serve in a particular ministry out of love for a pastor, ministry leader, or sometimes even out of love for our position in that place. When such love replaces our love for Jesus Christ we become vulnerable to the relentless subversions of our adversary and we lose our effectiveness as growing, participating disciples. Jesus warned us to make Him the priority of our heart through the words He spoke to Simon Peter after His resurrection… “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15). As we grow in the faith our commitment to Christ is strengthened through our trials.

The servant leader prepares for service in heaven. Jesus was always focused beyond the present temporal world and on the future kingdom of God. In this discussion with His disciples He promised that steadfast imitation of His servant leadership would prepare them for leadership with Him in the kingdom. He repeated this promise in His letter to the Church in Laodicea… “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Revelation 3:21). As we advance in the faith we are being prepared for heavenly leadership.

As we grow up into Christ, we attract and inspire others to follow Him as we increasingly reflect…

The Heart of Servant Leadership.