Learning From the Greatest Leader in History
A substantial part of the success of institutions rises and falls on its leadership.
Entities like countries, teams, companies, families, non-profits, and churches.
And sometimes even in our own individual lives when we need leading for direction, purpose, goals, dreams, vocations, talents, and so on.
So, as with any other position or title, leaders come in many shapes and sizes.
There are average leaders, good leaders, not-so-good leaders, and great leaders.
But there’s no category for perfect ones. Because no one’s without faults and downfalls—with one exception.
Greatest Leader Who Ever Lived
Only one leader in history was perfect. The greatest leader of all time.
He painted a picture of leadership we haven’t seen on the canvas of another human since.
Look at some of His leadership qualities:
- wise
- kind
- humble
- gracious
- merciful
- servant
- sinless
- above reproach
- no evil dwelled in Him
His name? Jesus Christ. The Son of God. The King of kings and Lord of lords.
Servant Leadership by the Greatest Leader
Jesus came from the splendor and glory of heaven. Yet, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. He hung out with the poor, destitute, social outcasts, and sinners. He even made time for children and never thought they were only in the way.
Jesus came from the splendor and glory of heaven. Yet, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. He hung out with the poor, destitute, social outcasts, and sinners. He even made time for children and never thought they were only in the way. Click To Tweet
Jesus not only waged war against evil, but also against neutrality to spiritual and moral beliefs. Christ annoyed the religious leaders and dignitaries of His day when He redefined what makes a great leader as He states here:
“You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant. And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 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 10:42-45 ESV
Furthermore, looking at the life and ministry of Christ, we learn how He never compromised the truth in order to love others. Not once. Instead, He loved others with the truth.
Killing the Example of His Leadership
Although Christ was the greatest leader in the history of the world, they killed Him. Before we judge too sternly, we kill the example of His leadership:
(1.) When we choose political correctness over Jesus correctness.
(2.) We make spirituality about religion instead of an intimate and personal relationship with God.
(3.) Or, we desire to be great leaders, but fail to take our cues from the greatest leader of all time.
Yes, Jesus’ destiny was always about dying a criminal’s death to give everyone eternal life who calls on His name as Savior and Lord. But He rose again. And He gladly laid down His life for me and for you—the greatest love (John 15:13).
We kill the example of Jesus' leadership when we choose political correctness over Jesus correctness; when we make spirituality about religion instead of an intimate and personal relationship with God. Click To TweetModeling the Greatest Leadership Skills
What if we let God paint the picture of leadership on our heart and life? What if we asked the heavenly Father to help us model the leadership skills of Jesus?
And what if we served others in humility, dispensed grace and mercy to those we influence, and loved people without compromising God’s truth?
What if we served others in humility, dispensed grace and mercy to those we influence, and loved people without compromising God’s truth to model the leadership of Jesus? Click To Tweet
Finally, what if we strived to die to ourselves and to resemble Christ—the only hope to live above reproach and to become a great leader?
Also see, If the World Needs Anything Now, It’s Jesus.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth) and Faith On Fire.
© 2021 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Karen, this is a great post about the Greatest Leader in History. He came to love us, to model faith and obedience to God, to teach us from the wisdom that only the Son of God could have, and then to die for our sins, laying down his life on the cross and rising from the dead, so that we will be able to spend an eternity with him, for we have entrusted ourselves in him, placing our eternity in his hands. Jesus is the most significant man who ever lived, and I’m so grateful that he made salvation available to us, and that he taught us/teaches us how to live.
Melinda, I like how you said: “Jesus is the most significant man who ever lived, and I’m so grateful that he made salvation available to us, and that he taught us/teaches us how to live.” Agree! I pray that like Jesus, we strive to serve others in humility, dispense grace and mercy to those we influence, and love people without compromising God’s truth.
I think you hit the nail on the head. We sacrifice our Christian calling for political correctness. I am so surprised how many friends think it is okay to do so. Thanks for the reminder.
Yvonne, I pray against that sacrifice of God’s callings in our life for political correctness. After all, we are supposed to be in this world but not of it. Thanks for sharing your great thoughts.
Powerful and convicting – especially the quote:
“We kill the example of Jesus’ leadership when we choose political correctness over Jesus correctness; when we make spirituality about religion instead of an intimate and personal relationship with God.”
Ouch.
Ava, I pray to stay concerned about Jesus correctness and biblical correctness over anything the world or culture attempts to replace it with.
Praise God for showing us what a true servant looks like, because of Jesus Christ. We are in need of a reminder of what truly biblical leadership looks like …
Linda, so true. We hear a lot about servant leadership, but not who led the way in what it really looks like.
Jesus gives us a beautiful model of sacrificial love, and he shows us a wonderful way we can express that love through servant leadership. When we humble ourselves and serve others no matter our “station,” we can look to Jesus as a perfect model. Jesus truly led the way in demonstrating this.
Jesus did lead the way, may we want to truly follow Him in this way imitating everything about His life and ministry on this earth as He lives in us!
The world would be a different place if we followed His law and showed His love to everyone. There are too many times when we choose self instead of Him. I pray that we all will go to the Father and seek His guidance.
Well said, Melissa. “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 ESV
Karen,
I love how Jesus continually caught the Pharisees in their own hypocrisy. Jesus modeled the type of leadership which our world doesn’t recognize — servant leadership. If we want to immitate Christ in our leading, we need to lay down hubris and pick up humility. Well said!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, couldn’t agree more. Servant leadership is a dying form of leadership these days. It’s all about “me” in our culture, including so many leaders across all walks of life. I pray the Lord will rise up more leaders who imitate the humility displayed in Jesus Christ.
Dear Karen,
Amen to your post. It’s touching how Jesus had time for children and made them feel loved.
That speaks volumes to me each time I think about it. He is love.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Hi Wendy, it is touching how Jesus is the picture of humble leadership with love, grace and mercy. God bless!
Jesus is the only one who had the right to demand to be served and obeyed and followed. Yet He served others with humility and love,meeting their needs instead of His own. Amazing.
Such a good point to make. Philipians 2:5-11 (ESV) confirms:
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men.And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
There are so many good lessons in this piece. Thank-you for getting me on the right track today.
Barb, you’re welcome, thankful you stopped by. I pray we serve others in humility, dispense grace and mercy to those we influence, and love people without compromising God’s truth.
I wish all leaders could follow the example of Jesus. What a different world this would be! I’ve seen both good leaders and bad leaders even in the church. Thanks for encouraging us to examine our own hearts to better resemble Christ as we follow him and lead others.
Lisa, our world would definitely be different in a good way if we all, high positions on down, modeled how Jesus does leadership.
Wonderful post, Karen. Loved your political correctness quote. I can’t help but see similarities in the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and many political leaders today. I appreciate the reminders to be a servant leader in my own life, too.
So true, Ashley. Since I’m a rule keeper, I have to guard against pharisee tendencies in my Christian walk. Because it counts for nothing if the heart motive is all wrong. I pray to always choose Jesus correctness and biblical correctness over being politcally correct.
This is a beautiful post on leadership. You have asked some powerful questions for all of us to ponder. Praying I “serve others in humility, dispense grace and mercy to those I influence, and love people without compromising God’s truth”. Then Jesus will be seen in me. Blessings!
Thank you, Joanne. It’s my prayer, too. To allow Jesus to lead me as I lead others in a like manner.