Dwight L. Moody once said, “The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves.”(1) This evening’s message will discuss something called servant leadership; and servant leadership is when a leader humbles him or herself to the level as those who are served.
Walter C. Jackson, one of my former professors at Campbellsville University, stated that “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.”(2) A super-leader is someone who often “lords it over” others, which I will discuss in a few moments.
The concept of servant leadership is somewhat foreign to many Christians; therefore, in our message tonight, we will seek to discover some things about this little-known style of leadership. We will begin by looking at the wrong attitude for servant leadership. We will then look at three points defining what this kind of leadership “is” and “is not,” and conclude by examining the six primary characteristics of servant leadership as presented by Robert Dale.
James and John Had the Wrong Attitude for Leadership (vv. 35-41)
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.
We see in verses 37-38, that James and John asked Jesus if they could be His right and left hand men in glory. Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking!” He then informed them that He wasn’t 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, and baptism is a metaphor for being plunged into calamity.(3) Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate act of service ever recorded in history. He performed a service for mankind that can never be repaid; for He saved the world from its sins. When Jesus asked this question of James and John, He was hoping they would realize 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 ever would, or could, sacrifice themselves as He did; for no one can save the world from its sins. Jesus received a very cocky answer from them, as James and John replied, “We are able.” When they told Jesus that they were able to do as He would; right here, they demonstrated their prideful attitude that would hinder them from effective kingdom service.
In verses 39-40, Jesus basically told them, “Yes, you can offer your life in a similar manner as Me by giving yourself to be martyred, 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, however, it would have been for the wrong reason. They wouldn’t have suffered out of love for their fellow man, but out of the hope of reward. John R. W. Stott, in his book The Cross of Christ, states 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.”(4)
David Garland, in the NIV Application Commentary, states, “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.”(5)
Point #1: The World’s View of Leadership is Not Jesus’ Definition (v. 42)(6)
42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.”
Let’s now look at three points on servant leadership; and point number one is that “the world’s view of leadership is not Jesus’ definition.” Those who were rulers over the Gentiles would make sure the Gentiles knew who the leaders were. They would “lord it over them,” as Jesus stated. They “exercised authority” and showed them who the boss was. This is definitely not an example of servant leadership; but rather, dictatorship, which says, “Either my way goes, or else!”
Have you ever wondered why Jesus lectured James and John about “lording it over” others? It’s probably because they would one day be leaders within the New Testament church. Allow me to share about James, for a moment, who would one day be a prominent leader after Jesus ascended into heaven. James, along with Peter, would be leaders of the Jewish Christians, while Paul would be a leader among the Gentile Christians. I believe Jesus knew ahead of time that James would try to discriminate against the Gentiles through his position and authority.
There is actually a situation in which this later happened. In Galatians 2:11-12 Paul said, “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 fully understand the concept of servant leadership, as witnessed by an event that happened a few years down the road from when Jesus spoke to James and John.
The world today views power as leadership. David Garland says, a “warlike attitude continues to plague our world. It attracts many because it seems to win.”(7) Do you remember the account concerning how Israel tried to choose a king to reign over them instead of Samuel, who was a judge? They demanded a king because they wanted to win and be seen as a strong nation; and they chose Saul because he had all the qualities that the world expects to result in greatness. The Bible says he was handsome and from a wealthy family (1 Sam 9:2-3); but what appeared good on the outside turned out to be rotten on the inside; for Saul was a dictator, through and through.
Point #2: Service is the Measure of Christian Leadership (vv. 43-44)(8)
43 “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.”
Point number two is that “service is the measure of Christian leadership.” Pastors, deacons, and even lay people need to become servants in order to become great; and this is not a reference to greatness or notoriety in the world. The greatness referred to here is significance in the eyes of the heavenly Father. If you are humble and a servant, the Lord will be well-pleased with you. He will one day say, “Well done my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21); and the word “servant” more accurately conveys what Jesus meant when He mentioned becoming a “slave of all.” In Mark 9:35, Jesus clarified, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
If you are a servant, then you’ll also see greatness in your work for the kingdom. Martin Luther King Jr. said that anyone can do great things for the kingdom, simply because anyone has the capacity to 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.”(9)
Point #3: Servant Leadership is Modeled after Jesus’ Behavior (v. 45)(10)
45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Point number three is that “servant leadership is modeled after Jesus’ behavior.” Right here, Jesus used Himself and His own acts of service as an example for believers to follow. Whenever we desire to understand servant leadership, then all we have to do is look to Jesus for advice.
Take, for example, Jesus’ foot washing, as seen in John chapter thirteen. John 13:3-5, informs us that “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 within His hands, but He refused to use that power to inflict control over His disciples, or to prohibit Himself from going to the cross. In demonstrating His love and servanthood, He got down and washed His disciples’ feet. In John 13:15, Jesus stated of this act of foot-washing, “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” Jesus exemplified servant leadership, and His example is one that we should all strive to follow.
The Six Primary Characteristics of Servant Leadership
As we draw to a close in tonight’s message, I wish to share six primary characteristics of servant leadership as presented by Robert Dale in his book Pastoral Leadership: 1.) servants lead out of relationships, not by coercion; 2.) servants lead by support, not by control; 3.) servants lead by developing others, not by doing all the ministry themselves; 4.) servants guide people, not drive them; 5.) servants lead from love, not domination; and 6.) servants seek growth, not position.(11)
Time of Reflection
We have just examined what it means to be a servant leader. The main question I have for you tonight is this: “Will you strive to serve others?” If we serve our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and build them up through encouragement and guidance in the Word, then others will be equipped and enabled to minister. And, if we serve those who are non-believers, then we can show them the love of Christ through action and deed, and allow them to see that Christians are indeed a peculiar people; resulting in them wanting to know more about our Savior.
I wish to close by sharing Philippians 2:5-11: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God
also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
If you don’t know Jesus Christ, the servant who died and performed the greatest act of service in the history of the world, then you can know Him tonight. Isaiah called Him the suffering servant. He bled and died for you and me, and was punished for our sins while on the cross. He did all this so that you would not have to suffer for your sins; and if you will just receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, then you will be forgiven of your sins and inherit eternal life; and you will become a servant in the kingdom of God.
NOTES
(1) Michael P. Green, Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997), 329.
(2) David P. Gushee and Walter C. Jackson, Preparing for Christian Ministry (Wheaton: Victor, 1996), 181.
(3) David E. Garland, “Mark,” The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 412.
(4) Ibid. 415. Taken from Stott, The Cross of Christ (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1986), 286-287.
(5) Ibid. 415.
(6) Robert D. Dale, Pastoral Leadership (Nashville: Abingdon, 1986), 29.
(7) Garland, 416.
(8) Dale, 29.
(9) Garland, 417. Taken from The Wisdom of Martin Luther King, Jr., ed. Alex Ayres (New York: Meridian, 1993), 205.
(10) Dale, 29.
(11) Ibid. 34.
