G.K. Chesterton once quipped, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting (or lacking). It has been found difficult and not tried.” I think that can be easily applied to the leadership of Jesus. The Servant Leadership of Jesus has been found to be enormously difficult and quite often, just left untried. In his book The Jesus Way, Eugene Peterson laments the almost complete disregard of the Jesus Way of Leadership in the North American church. I would only modify Peterson by suggesting it also applies to the Global Church.
A favorite phrase I use about the Jesus Way of Leadership is “counter-cultural.” The way of Jesus is totally, thoroughly, radically, counter to prevailing cultural models of leadership – North and South, East and West.
While we see this early with his temptation in the wilderness, perhaps the core gospel story is found in Mark 10:35-45 (along with the parallel passages in Matthew and Luke). James and John want to have exalted positions of power and authority. They ask Jesus for that privilege and status. You can see the flow of the conversation as you read the passage. Jesus describes how the world leads--and then, be sure to catch the stirring antithesis in verse 43. “But it shall NOT BE SO AMONG YOU” (ESV).
Then Jesus describes his way of leadership. Truly great leadership in God’s kingdom is to be a servant. But more than a servant--to have the status of a slave. But more than a slave--to be a sacrifice for the sake of those you serve. Counter-cultural may be too mild!
How often do we see these themes in leadership seminars and conferences? How to Suffer Well for God’s Kingdom. Letting go of Power, Status, and Privilege. Strength in Weakness. Leadership Lessons in Cross Carrying.
I have yet to find any seminary advertising to potential students, “We are Preparing Living Sacrifices, Come and Learn With Us!”
The way of Jesus is different from our ways. Whether in the wilderness, walking dusty roads in Galilee, riding a donkey into Jerusalem, hanging on a cross... Jesus is different. Radically so. Refreshingly so. I suspect that for many, it will continue to be found difficult and left untried.
I am grateful that Mesa is a gathering place where we can pursue the way of Jesus together! Walking the Servant Way of Jesus alone is nearly impossible. Walking that way of Jesus with others, is still difficult. But together with others--friends, colleagues, and mentors-- we stumble, learn, keep walking, fall short, live in love, find strength, and along the way, participate in the delightful stories of God’s surprising grace.
The way of Jesus may be difficult, but it is not empty. It is full of grace, transformation, and surprising joy. So take the next step—however small—and walk it with others. Together, we just might become the kind of leaders the world rarely sees, but deeply needs.
