How Jesus Dealt With Disrespectful Sheep

How Jesus Dealt With Disrespectful Sheep

Mark 8:33

Disrespect of leaders is a common problem that few seem to have a solution. Jesus knew the best ways to deal with His people when they failed to show Him the respect He deserved. Resepct is essential as it is a deferential esteem that proceeds obedience, regard and responsiveness.

1. Jesus knew the best ways to deal with His followers when they got out of line. One day Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him saying that he should not suggest that he must be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teacher of the law and that he must be killed. Jesus said to Peter, "Get behind me Satan. You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Mark 8:33) Ask the Lord for the wisdom, timing and words to correct those under your care who need it.

2. Jesus knew that a leader should not tolerate strife among his flock. The Lord Jesus knew that his brother James would write, "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." (James 3:16) Ask the Lord to give you the discernment to know when and how to confront your members who are deliberately causing strife in your congregation.

3. Jesus knew that a leader is responsible for maintaining unity of purpose in the hearts and minds of his members. The Lord prayed, "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (Jn. 17:23) Ask the Lord for the grace, wisdom and strength to preserve the unity of the Spirit within your congregation.

4. Jesus knew that a leader must be willing to confront before he can correct divisiveness. The Lord Jesus said , "When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, ’I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." (Matt. 26:20,21) Ask the Lord for the tact, wisdom and courage to confront those who are causing divisiveness within your organization.

5. Jesus knew that there are times when a leader must go to individuals to point out wrong attitudes, behaviors or beliefs. The Lord Jesus knew that Paul would write, "I urge you, brothers to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." (Rom. 16:17) Ask the Lord for the holy boldness to point out wrong attitudes, actions or beliefs within your congregations.

6. Jesus knew that love also included the courage to gently bring people back to the truth. The Lord Jesus knew that Paul would write, "Speaking the truth in love, let us grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ." (Eph. 4:15) Ask the Lord for the love and insights into how to gently help people be restored to the truth enabling them to holistically mature.

7. Jesus knew that a good shepherd does not lord over his flock with dictatorial authoritarianism. The Lord Jesus knew that Peter would write, "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (I Pet. 5:2,3) Ask the Lord to help you avoid any tendencies to abuse your authority in trying to bully people.

8. Jesus knew that familiarity can often lead to disrespect of leaders. John knew that Jesus would not allow himself to be lulled into the a complacent state of familiarity with any person. John wrote of Jesus, "But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man." (John 2:24,25) Ask the Lord to help you avoid the problems that over familiarity can bring.

9. Jesus knew that a leader should not complain about what he permits. The Lord Jesus stood firmly against self-righteous Pharisaical leadership. The Lord Jesus said, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I cam from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language unclear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say? You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire." (John 8:42-44) Ask the Lord to avoid blaming others for your own failure to carry out the responsibilities of calling sin for what it is.