Jesus the Servant-Leader
Everything Rises and falls on Leadership – John Maxwell
The World Needs Mature Christlike Leaders
Throughout history, the course of nations and the fate of civilizations have been shaped by the quality of their leaders—those who build, restore, and uplift and those whose failure to lead with righteousness has led to humanity’s greatest tragedies. The most profound moments of healing and redemption emerge from godly, fearless leadership, while the darkest eras of devastation reveal the catastrophic absence of righteous, wise, discerning leadership.
Humans are “group pack” mammals that necessitate leadership. Never in human history has there been a greater need for Godly, Christ-centered, kingdom-of-God-oriented servant leadership. According to the Edelman Trust in Leaders barometer report of 2022, trust in government has declined in 17 of 27 countries. From the group of business, government, NGOs, media, and science leaders ranked by the amount of the public who trust them, scientists are revered as gaining the most trust. Church leadership is not measured, but according to the Barna studies, the list of people categorizing themselves as “none” on DATA Stats forms under Religious affiliation has increased by 17%! More and more people thus no longer see themselves as part of any formal religious entity and thus no longer adhere to church leadership’s directives. Sadly, many church leaders play into the devil’s hand! It is shocking to see pastors being carried on thrones by their members, believing that they, as men of God, should “not defile themselves by getting their hands dirty”. Even worse is witnessing pastors parading in super luxury vehicles, believing they deserve this heavenly treatment as a reward for their supernatural anointing. Carnal competition for power and positions as status symbols has caused much hurt and pain in the Church!
The “Woke”, post-modern, humanistic culture deems any form of patriarchal dominant-specialist kind of leadership as oppressive. According to this thinking, each person has the right to live freely without any restrictions. On social media, actual leaders who physically do something of significance have been replaced by so-called “influencers” who managed to gain the greatest number of online followers or subscribers. These followers are determined by their physical outward appearance of perfection, wealth and glamour, not the acts of benevolence and real humility.
If one considers the ultimate leadership position as the president of a country, there are only a few leaders worldwide who truly inspire us. One possible reason may be that in order to retain people’s votes, one has to chase what is popular, not what is right or best for all!
In recent years, our local debate between pastors, government officials, NGOs, and the private sector in the Cederberg has been to find sustainable solutions to the significant challenges of our day such as poor service delivery, inequality, unemployability, and poverty. Meetings has resolved time after time with the realization: we have a dismal lack of godly, authentic leaders! The current leaders in the community are mostly beleaguered with ideological narrow-mindedness, profound Christ-centered biblical moral ignorance, arrogant egotism, and being “bags of wind” that accomplish very little!
Of all the global causes dedicated to preserving resources and preventing animal extinction, our greatest human limitation is the absence of remarkable, exemplary Christlike leaders. Leaders who reflect the character of Christ are essential to guiding humanity toward meaningful, sustainable change that aligns with God’s will for creation.
Leadership is Influence
Everyone has some form of influence on others, and your life inevitably affects those around you. You either positively influence others by offering encouragement, sound correction, and advice—helping inspire, unite, and build people up—or negatively impact by causing division, fostering fear and doubt, exploiting, or breaking others down. The choice is yours: whether to uplift and harmonize or to damage and diminish. But every choice has a consequence.
A 9-year-old Capetonian boy was waiting outside a Lavender Hill church hall where a group of men engaged in intense discussion with a facilitator. The group of men were the leaders of rival gangs in that township and who, for the first time in the history of gang warfare on the Cape Flats, were voluntarily in the same room as their rivals without the risk of one killing the other – well sort of. No one was searched before entering the negotiating room. And neither the police nor the military were present or invited. The encounter was based on trust, so no one was searched for weapons. The tension in the room was palpable every time these leaders met for discussions with the facilitator.
During a short break, the facilitator and peacebuilder, Dr Ruben Richards, of the Ruben Richards Foundation, tried to make small talk with the 9-year-old youngster patiently waiting for someone in the negotiating room. “So, what do you want to be when you grow up one day?” asked the facilitator. Without blinking and with pride and confidence, the 9-year-old said, “I want to be just like my daddy, a gangster.” That daddy was one of the most notorious gang leaders in the negotiation room. [1]
The top new vocation online is being a social media influencer. The documentary Fake Famous (2021), directed by Nick Bilton, explores the world of social media influencers by conducting a social experiment in which three ordinary individuals attempt to fake their way to fame. The documentary highlights the tactics used to build a false persona online, such as buying followers and fabricating luxurious lifestyles, shedding light on the often deceptive nature of influencer culture.
The Leader Within
Aje Pelser explores the truth that there are “galaxies of leadership” to explore, from personal to corporate, from influencing a community to uplifting a whole society.[2] We might not all take the lead in daily life, but we all have a responsibility to lead in some way that affects our course of life and those around us. Every parent is a leader to their children. Older siblings lead the younger ones. We have all kinds of leadership roles to explore in school: class leaders, academic leaders, team leaders, etc.
Most people get stuck when you only lead by giving orders and instructions. Then you become inoperable to following instructions. On the other hand, some people become so comfortable with servanthood that they never want to take responsibility and lead. True leadership requires the humility to flow between serving people and leading by example seamlessly. This balance is the fundamental antidote preventing leaders from losing perspective and touch with the people they lead. You listen, gain feedback, are approachable, humbly receive criticism and advice and then make a decision FOR the people. “A leader and commander for the people.” (Isa. 55:4)
Without wise, mature-in-Christ godly leaders, we could get stuck as a community and Church. We can only go as far as our leaders can lead us. Think of the biblical eight righteous kings in Judah and how their reforms had an immediate positive economic and social impact. But unfortunately, the godless kings attracted God’s judgment and consequent social disparity.
Jesus’ Kind of leadership
1. Know and Execute the WILL of God
The kind of leadership Jesus portrayed was not to gain power through popular votes or seeking attention. Jesus, the King of Kings, came to give His power away by serving, teaching, healing, and enabling young boys into the Truth. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
The most important lesson we learn from Jesus’ leadership style is His knowledge and demonstration of the will of God!
Jesus knew and demonstrated God’s will in every area of life. He understood and embodied God’s will concerning governance, family, economy, social relations, and even the eternal judiciary system of heaven and hell. He knew what God values and hates and lived it out in His actions, making His leadership an unparalleled model of obedience to God’s principles. He guided humanity toward a deeper understanding of divine justice, mercy, and righteousness.
I strongly believe that every believer should complete at least one year of theological studies focused on the Bible before stepping into public life or the marketplace. Such a foundation equips individuals with a deep understanding of biblical principles, providing the spiritual wisdom and ethical grounding necessary to navigate the complexities of modern society. This study helps believers integrate faith into every aspect of life, empowering them to make informed, Christ-centered decisions in their personal and professional endeavours.
2. Hear & Obey
If you examine the leaders mentioned in the Bible, they came from diverse social, economic, and occupational backgrounds—both male and female—who rose to prominence not by their status but because they listened to God’s voice and obeyed His commands. These seemingly insignificant individuals gained access to rulers and kings, demonstrating that God’s calling, not worldly influence, elevates people to positions of great influence and impact.
“although He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest.” (Heb. 5:8)
Jesus did nothing unless He heard it from the Father:
Joh 5:19-20, 30 “See my father do”
Joh 6:38 “only His Will”
Joh 8:28 “Father taught me”
Joh 12:49 “father given commandment”
Joh 14:10, 24, 31 “Father that dwells in me does the works”
Mat 26:39 “not My will but thine”
We can do nothing without Him
1 John 2:27 – “anointing abides within you”
Joh 15:5 – “apart from Me you can do nothing”
Rom 8:14 – “those who are led are children of God”
Joh 14:26 – “Holy Sprit will bring to remembrance all that I said”
Joh 14:21 – “obey My commands”
Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve lost their right to rule in Eden. Obedient pupils become the top-10 in their class and eventually are chosen to lead their peers as prefects. Sportsmen who obey their coach and train hard achieve Olympic gold! However, it is not blind obedience we are talking about. The Hebrew word ‘Shama’ is used in Deut. 6:4-6: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” It is a deeply meaningful word. It means to listen with the intent to obey. Hear and obey is thus one mutually inclusive process. It also implies to listen to understand the heart of the matter. Hearing is to really understand what is required and then go and fulfil it!
What an amazing place the world will be if everyone obeys in this kind of way. Jesus heard the Word, and when the opportunity arose, He said: “Today, in your hearing, this scripture is fulfilled.” Jesus existed to obey and fulfil scripture. He had no other personal agenda or ambition. This kind of leader seeks not the praise, reward or favor of man. He lives by adhering to God’s rightness in all decisions and aspects of life.
3. Wisdom
“This Wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his Wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man’s Wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.” (Eccl. 9:13-18)
This passage of Scripture highlights the value and power of exceptional, godly, practical wisdom, even from the unknown, seemingly poor individual.
Leadership comes at a high price, requiring complex decision-making, enduring immense strain, and meeting constant demands as leaders balance responsibility, accountability, and the expectations of those they serve. This is why many would rather succumb to being followers; taking the lead is a huge personal risk, for one can be wrong, rejected, and persecuted if people do not accept your lead.
In 1 Kings 3:5-12 Solomon, after becoming king, has a dream in which God asks him what he desires. Instead of requesting wealth, power, or long life, Solomon asks for wisdom to govern God’s people wisely. Pleased with Solomon’s request, God grants him exceptional wisdom beyond compare.
“Wisdom is knowing the right action, taken at the right time, by the right people.”
4. Education
This wisdom comes from much study, listening, reading, experimenting and actualization of what is TRUE and RIGHT. Bibi Netanyahu relates a heartwarming interlude between him and his father, when he was about to become Prime Minister of Israel the first time. He asked his father what he thought was the prerequisite quality for somebody taking on that job.
“What do you think?” he said.
“A clear vision of where you want to lead the country, a strong commitment to that vision, and sufficient flexibility in navigating toward achieving it,” I answered confidently.
To my surprise, Father waved all that aside.
“You need that for any leadership position. A university president, a head of a company or a military commander would all give the same answer.”
Now I was intrigued.
“So, Abba, what do you think is uniquely required to be Prime Minister?” I pressed.
He paused and then uttered one word that astonished me.
“Education,” he said. “A broad and deep education. Otherwise, you’ll be at the mercy of your clerks.” [3]
A true leader is a constant learner, a good listener, and an astute observer. When time constraints prevent them from conducting their own research, they surround themselves with diverse, brilliant minds who have proven their expertise. These scholars are not only academically gifted but also committed to upholding truth over personal opinion. By gathering individuals of integrity, a leader ensures that decisions are based on accurate, well-researched insights, allowing truth to triumph in the face of bias or self-interest.
5. Too Much Talk Leads to Too Little Action!
I recently asked Prof Nick Binedell, founder of GIBS, what he sees as the three most important leadership traits. He said: “Moral exemplary character, know the system/infrastructure/ecosystem you serve well, and know when to make the call.” He says the problem in our country is that people choose leaders because of their “gift of the gab”! They can manipulate crowds and do not take care of being obstructive or populist whilst challenging existing leadership. This revolutionist contestation is a leadership style perceived to be the solution that will deliver people from their oppression. The reality is that these leaders are “bags of wind” with no skills and substance to act or execute systemic change!
Although leaders should be able to communicate effectively and be masters at public speaking, their primary function is to get a team of people together to produce something of value. Jeff Sutherland, the co-creator of Scrum, defines a leader as someone who empowers others to perform at their best, fosters collaboration and encourages continuous improvement. In the Scrum framework, leadership enables teams to self-organize, adapt, and deliver high-quality results; not through command and control but by creating an environment where people can excel. A true leader removes obstacles, supports the team’s autonomy, and focuses on delivering value to the organization and its customers. [5]
Prof Deon Pretorius’ morphogenesis approach to social development is built on authentic Leaders: people who attend meetings faithfully, complete the training, and do the hard work before talking! This is where I believe the true church can play a vital role, for we should be the factory that produces salt-light-yeast type of leaders—people who make real change ripples wherever they are!
Jean Naude, CEO of Groot Constantia Wine Estate, seeks a leader who always listens and resolves conflict through reasonable fairness and practical wisdom. He sees the big picture and helps each team member see it, too! He also admits that narcissistic, rebellious, and obstinate team members prevent organizational flow and must be dismissed, or they must resign.
This is why the Bible clearly states that our deeds will judge us, “God will repay each person according to what they have done” (Rom. 2:6); and where the dead are judged “according to their works” (Rev. 20:12).
6. Leadership is Management
You will eventually lose what you cannot manage and administrate. Some people love to pioneer new things, explore, find solutions, and fix things immediately. This feels good for the moment, and everyone may look happy. The hard work is to create a career, a business, an enterprise, or a multi-national company that fixes things and helps people. It takes considerable effort, moral standing, collaboration, and focus to build a business that functions efficiently and where both employees and clients are happy.
Adam and Eve’s first job were to name the animals, which was the first step in leadership and ruling over them. An animal is trainable according to your hand the moment you name it. So, one rules and manages one’s thoughts by naming and writing them down – this is journaling. One rules over time by scheduling it – this is diarizing. Naming your emotions is psychology. Naming your money is budgeting. Leadership thus begins at home, first leading and managing your own life, then you can lead others by example! Be faithful in the least, and God will appoint you to do more!
It is even more interesting that at Adam’s naming of the animals, God presented them by category. The ability to group things together means you create order. This speaks of the ability to create coherent systems through efficient administration.
7. Feedback: The Antidote to Totalitarianism and Abuse
Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy Of The Oppressed highlights the dangers of abusive leadership, where leaders impose directives without honest feedback. When leaders impose decisions, even if well-intended, without meaningful, responsive input, they lose the enthusiasm and passion of those they lead. Jesus was strict and truthful yet inspired people to act beyond their limitations.
No one knows what effect they have on another without feedback. Asking questions, conducting polls, requesting feedback, and being open to correction are the most important character and social skills leaders must develop to ensure that people follow them not only because they have to but also because they want to.
8. Servant Leadership
“We have all been called to be foot-washers.” — Allan Woods
Servant leadership, as embodied by Jesus, is now copied and favored by most leadership institutions worldwide. Politicians are careful to depict themselves as caring, loving, and humble servants. Yet, they still do not have intimate first-hand knowledge of the will of God regarding the economy, health, safety, education, and leadership.
True servanthood, beautifully exemplified by Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, calls us to serve with humility and care. In modern society, we can “wash the feet” of those we lead by serving them selflessly: for employees, by leading with compassion and fostering growth; for children, by nurturing and guiding them with patience; for students, by offering mentorship and understanding their challenges; and for the community, by addressing needs and promoting unity without seeking recognition. In every role, true service means putting others first, embodying Christ’s love through practical acts of humility.
Servanthood paves the way to discovering the purpose of your creation. “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” (John 12:26)
Jesus, as the Son of God, took on the form of a servant (Phil. 2:4). If the Creator of all things takes on this role, He also knows best how to use us. We are at our best when we serve others! True leadership requires humility and the ability to seamlessly flow between serving and leading by example. This balance prevents leaders from losing touch with those they lead.
9. Leaders are Fathers & Mothers
What the world needs are more godly fathers. [4]
“Virtually every major social pathology has been linked to fatherlessness.”
Stephen Baskerville
The first God-appointed leader is a father. We get our example of fatherhood from God Himself. He is not calling Himself ‘most supreme glorious, luminant being’ but FATHER. The highest example of a perfect father is God, who loves unconditionally, provides abundantly, disciplines justly, forgives generously, and sacrifices selflessly. He demonstrates His care for humanity, including His ultimate act of love by sending Jesus Christ to redeem the world.
There is something divinely embedded in being a parent that forces you to forget about yourself and give yourself sacrificially to care for and protect a vulnerable child.
10. Jesus Leads by Example
No matter how much money, prestige, power or talent you have, as long as you serve humanity with it, to heal, liberate and empower people! It’s simple!
Servant leadership assumes that I serve first, and then lead in service as an example to others. We should actually omit the titles “leader” from our LinkedIn profile and business cards. For excellence in service is leadership.
Bob Davis tells in probably one of the best speeches about leadership ever made on the famous TED platform: ‘Leadership without ego is a rarest commodity’. [2] He tells of a man named Bob Townsend, who wrote the popular book ‘Up The Organization’. The book is about the three aspects of a factory that we can control: Money, Time and Quality. Management is the ability to manage these three aspects properly. If you work too fast, quality can decline, if you work too cheaply, quality also decreases, etc.
But what about people? In World War II, Dwight Eisenhower threw a chain at a heap in front of his leaders, asking, “If one were to push this chain, in what direction would it go?” No one could answer that. For no one knows; if you push the chain it can move in any direction. Then he picked up the tip of the chain and pulled the chain. Now, of course, the chain follows the point. So Jesus came to correct us, by showing us how to live. Jesus does not force His way and lifestyle on us!
True leaders are always servants. Leaders without ego. Furthermore, Bob Davids tells how he worked as the manager of a large factory in China. The workers were installing pipes before the foundation would be laid. One day, he saw that a pipe’s angle was inadequate to divert water naturally. He tried to explain, but because of the language problem, he removed his expensive shoes and jumped into the hole to show them how to do it right. In this way, he not only gained the respect of the workers but also established an entirely new standard of leadership.
Conclusion
We are not just occasional servants; we are called to be leaders through service in every part of our lives. From the moment you receive your name, you begin the business of your life—your choices, skills, and how you serve humanity will shape your future. The more knowledge, skills, and wisdom you gain, the more people will value your contribution. In a world that often prioritizes comfort over purpose, true leadership is found in serving others with excellence and impacting your life and those around you.
Let us all say: “By God’s grace, I am a leader after His own heart.”
[1] https://pelsermedia.com/product/develop-the-leader-within/
[3] Excerpt from: “Bibi: My Story” by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Read this book on Everand: https://www.scribd.com/book/599982265
[4] https://twnaf.com the world needs a father – equipping fathers || building healthy families || transforming communities || healing the world
[5] Sutherland, Jeff, and J.J. Sutherland. Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time. Crown Business, 2014.
