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.
10. Jesus knew that a leader should not tolerate habitual disrespect. One day as they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." Jesus said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. He said to another man, ’Follow me’. The man replied, Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Still another said, ’I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family. Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:57-62)
Application: Ask the Lord for the wisdom, grace and strength to not tolerate disrespect from your followers in your organizations.
11. Jesus knew that people usually will not respect and follow anyone who they can intimidate, dominate or manipulate. The Lord Jesus refused to be intimidated, dominated or manipulated by any human being. Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.’ (Matt. 28:18-20) Ask the Lord to help you not give in to your fear and be intimidated by the threats of men.
Application: Ask the Lord for strength to overcome any weakness so you are not oppressed by anyone. Beseech the Lord to grant you the wisdom and knowledge necessary to accomplish all of God’s will without being coerced by anyone.
12. Jesus knew that the success of His church depended on unity around mutual commitments to God. The Lord Jesus knew that Paul would express a great formula for unity in Phil. 2:1-5 which says, "Since we have encouragement from being united with Christ, since we have comfort from his love, since we have fellowship with the Spirit, since we have tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."
Application: Ask the Lord to help you follow Paul’s prescription for perfect unity, respect, and order in your organization. (Phil. 2:1-5)
