Jesus as our Ultimate Leader

Introduction

Throughout history, there have been several people that we use as examples for what good leadership looks like. Even though there are people on Earth that set a standard we should follow concerning leadership, as Christians, there is one person that had all the qualities that a leader should have and never failed either. Jesus Christ is our perfect example of what it means to be a leader.

How Did Jesus Lead?

One of the most defined aspects of Jesus’ life was his ability to serve. Whether that be through his acts or his words, Jesus always led with a humble heart to where he uplifted those around him. Take for example, John 13:1-17, the time before Passover when Jesus got down on his knees and washed the disciples’ feet. As SWAT leaders, we all went through a variation of this humbling moment where we were either being washed or washing someone’s feet. To emphasize Jesus’ humility even more, in verse 2, the Bible points out that Jesus already well knew that Judas was going to betray him and despite this foreknowledge, Jesus still washed the feet of the traitor. Just think about the absolute humility and kindness filled in His heart and think of all the mixed hatred we would have if put in the same situation. As Christian leaders, we are all called to this same sort of humility when we serve. We are called to set aside our biases, set aside our thoughts, and, to instead, lead others in love around us.

Even though Jesus was a loving servant in many ways, he also stood firm and knew when to take a stance and speak firmly against the devil. For instance, in John 8:1-11, a group of Pharisees brought a woman caught in an adulterous act and quoted a punishment written according to Jewish law. Jesus however, knew the hypocrisy in the Jewish law and called the Pharisees out. As a result, the Pharisees gradually left the scene and left the woman untouched. This story demonstrates the calmness Jesus asserts in his situations. Instead of agreeing with the Pharisees and punishing the woman, Jesus takes a neutral stance that neither angers the hearts of the Pharisees nor outright punishes the adulterous woman. An outlook which shows grace to both parties and makes them think about their decisions. Jesus spoke with tenderness and with thought, one that was loving but did not conform to what the public wanted to hear. He was not swayed by the waves in the ocean or recklessly using his authority, he was calm and collected and handled the situation with great discernment.

Lastly, despite Jesus constantly maintaining his flock through his example, he made time for himself to rest in his Father’s embrace so that he could go out and lead with exuberance. In Matthew 14:23, Matthew explicitly writes how after Jesus feeds the crowd of 5,000, he dismisses them and goes up into the mountain to pray by himself for a few hours until the evening. Jesus knew that the people needed Him and so out of respect for the people He wanted to teach, He needed to make sure he was in a sound spot capable of dedicating every bit of his time/energy to his followers. In the modern day setting, this sort of time seems unrealistic. With having constant work to do, social media to compare ourselves to, and reels/shorts to entertain ourselves with, there never seems to be time to settle ourselves down, reflect on our lives, and reorient our lives to God. As leaders, it is important that we intentionally take control of our schedules and make time in the day/week/month to relax and look back to the Lord. If the enemy cannot tempt us, he will instead make us too busy, so with that idea, do not let the devil do either of those to you.

Conclusion

Being a SWAT leader does not necessarily mean leading those around you. As much as we use the term in reference to those around us, it is just as important as a Christian to lead your own life. Jesus was the perfect mix of that. On the outside, he seemed clear and knew what He was on Earth for. He rebuked his disciples, sounded off on pharisees, and preached to the big crowds. But in order to do that, He had to be in control of his own life. On the inside, Jesus was steadfast in his spiritual walk. He was tired and tempted throughout the Bible, but He was never reckless, emotionally driven, or frantic. He was always a steward of his time and therefore, influenced many people around him.