Mayor Gerardo Balmori
The Salvation Army
Dwight L. Moody once said, “The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men
he serves.” This morning’s sermon is focus on: “Servant Leadership that Empowers the People.”
Servant leadership is when a leader humbles him or herself to be on the same level as those who are
served. In the eyes of the Lord we are all equal, and for one to rise above another and say that they are
better or more righteous is ungodly. What we are to see is that servant leadership can work in two ways.
Leaders operate on the level of the ones served, and also the ones served can be leaders themselves
because they are servants to begin with.
Walter C. Jackson, a professor at Campbellsville University says, “Servant leadership, as portrayed in the
gospels, is difficult to maintain in a climate where increasingly larger segments of the Christian
population prefer ‘super-leader’ styles.” What this means to many is that this concept of servant
leadership is virtually unknown, so let’s dive in and see what it is all about.
First we’ll look at what the wrong attitude is for servant leadership, and then we will look at three points
defining what servant leadership is and is not.
The wrong attitude for leadership (vv. 35-41)
We see in verses 37-38 that James and John asked Jesus if they could be his right and left hand men.
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask.” He basically told them that he was not the one who
decided who sat on his right and on his left in the kingdom, only God the Father could do that.
In verse 38 Jesus asked James and John if they were able to drink the same cup and be baptized with the
same baptism that he would. The cup is a metaphor for suffering in Isaiah chapter 51. Baptism is a
metaphor for being plunged into calamity in Psalm 42:7 and 69:1. Jesus’ death on the cross was the
ultimate act of servanthood in history. Jesus did a service to mankind that can never be repaid. He saved
the world from its sins. When Jesus asked this question of James and John, he was demonstrating to
them that greatness is achieved through service.
When Jesus asked this question he was expecting to hear them reply with the word “no,” because no one
would or could sacrifice themselves as he would. No one can save the world from its sins. He received a
very cocky answer from them though. James and John replied, “We are able.” When they told Jesus that
they were able to do what Jesus would, they demonstrated their prideful attitude that would hinder them
from servanthood.
In verses 39-40 Jesus basically told them, “Yup, I guess you can suffer like I can, but that’s not going to
win you any favor in my Father’s kingdom.” You see, “They believed that they could endure a little
hardship if Jesus would grant them seats of power and corner offices.” If they suffered like Jesus, it
would have been for the wrong reason. They wouldn’t be suffering out of love for Christ, but out of the
hope of reward.
John R. W. Stott says in his book The Cross of Christ that our world “(and even the church) is full of
Jameses and Johns, go-getters and status-seekers, hungry for honor and prestige, measuring life by
achievements, and everlastingly dreaming of success . . .”
David Garland says in the NIV Application Commentary, “One need not look far to see preachers who do
not preach to reach the people but preach to reach the top, to become ecclesiastical superstars. They see
discipleship to Jesus in terms of rank and privilege. They assume that Jesus is someone who will achieve
things for them and give them the status of the lords.”
Point #1: The world’s view of leadership, is not Jesus’ definition (v. 42)
Those who are rulers over the Gentiles in Jerusalem make sure the Gentiles know who the ruler is. They
“lord it over them,” as Jesus says. They “exercise authority” and show them who is the boss. This is
definitely not servant leadership. This is dictatorship. Either my way goes or else.
In Galatians 2:11-12 Paul says, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face,
because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles;
but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.”
James did not understand servant leadership as is seen by an event that happened years down the road
from when Jesus spoke to James and John.
The world today views power as leadership. The NIV Application Commentary says, a “warlike attitude
continues to plague our world. It attracts many because it seems to win.” Remember when Israel tried to
choose a king over Samuel? It was because they wanted to win and be a strong nation. They didn’t know
what servant leadership was.
Point #2: Service is the measure of Christian leadership (vv. 43-44)
Christian pastors, deacons, and lay people need to be servants in order to become great. This is not a
reference to greatness or power in the world. Remember that the last shall be first, and the first shall be
last. The greatness referred to here is greatness in the Father’s eyes. If you are humble and a servant, the
Lord will be pleased. He will say, “well done my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).
If you are a servant, there will also be greatness in one’s work for the kingdom. If souls are to be added to
the kingdom of the Lord, we all need to be servants to those around us. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that
everyone can become great because anyone can serve. He said,
You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to
serve. You don’t have to know Plato and Aristotle. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity.
You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics. You only need a heart full of
grace. A soul generated by love.
Point #3: Servant leadership is modeled after Jesus’ behavior (v. 45)
Jesus uses himself and his own acts of service as an example for others to follow. Whenever we desire to
understand servant leadership, we can turn to Jesus for advice. Take for example Jesus’ foot washing in
John chapter 13. In John 13:3-5 we read, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His
hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His
garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash
the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”
Jesus knew that he had all the power of the universe in his hands, but he did not use the power in those
hands to inflict control over his disciples. He instead got up and washed his disciples’ feet. In verse 15 of
this chapter Jesus said, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
Jesus exemplified servant leadership, and his is a model we should follow.
Six main points of servant leadership:
“Servants lead out of relationships, not by coercion.”
“Servants lead by support, not by control.”
“Servants lead by developing others, not by doing all the ministry themselves.”
“Servants guide people, not drive them.”
“Servants lead from love, not domination.”
“Servants seek growth, not position.”
Conclusion
We have just examined what it means to be a servant leader. The question I have for you is: “Will you
strive to serve others?” If we serve our fellow Christians and build them up through encouragement and
guidance in the Word, then instead of a select few doing the ministry, others will be equipped and
enabled to minister. If we serve those who are not Christians, then we can show them the love of Christ
through deed, and allow them see that Christians are indeed a peculiar people.
If you do not know Jesus Christ, the servant who died and performed the greatest act of service of all
time, you can know him today. Isaiah called him the suffering servant. He bled and died for you and me
in order to be punished for our sins. He did this so that we would not have to suffer for our sins. If you
accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then there will be no punishment for you. You will become a
servant yourself in the kingdom of the Lord
