If we try to figure out what leadership should look like by looking at leaders around us—at work, in our government, in our culture—things can get pretty confusing. So many of these "leaders" lead with wrong motives. They lead out of pride and greed, for acclaim and wealth—not for the good of their followers or supporters or constituents, but for the good of themselves. So many of them try to use force and fear to exploit, rather than wisdom and compassion and self-sacrifice in order to love.
In the message is this episode, we are challenged to consider the kind of leadership we're exhibiting in our own spheres of influence. Whether we lead in our places of work—or in our homes or in our relationships—we are all leaders in some sense, in some context. We all have opportunities to influence and impact people. And we all have choices about what kind of leaders we're going to be.
Jesus provides a powerful and perfect model for what leadership should look like. He himself said, about his own leadership style, "the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve." That's Matthew chapter 20, verse 28. He didn't lead because of what He could get out of the arrangement; He led because of what He could give. He didn't lead out of selfishness, but out of the ultimate form of selflessness—"to give his life as a ransom for many." Those last words are also from the same verse in Matthew.
He shepherded people. He didn't coerce them to do what He wanted them to do. He didn't use intimidation and manipulation. He used influence and devotion and love.
And we can emulate Him. If we choose to, we can be leaders who lead like Jesus.