Who is the Best Leader among all the leaders in history? Jesus is the one person whose leadership changed the world. All those who aspire to be good leaders can look up to and learn from the Best Leader of all – Jesus! What can we learn from Him about leadership?
Best Leader: Jesus was humble
Jesus had the power to command the wind, the sea, and storms. He could walk on water, raise the dead, heal the sick, multiply food and turn water into wine. Being a celebrity in His time, people followed Him everywhere. Yet He was not proud.
Though Jesus is the ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords’, He was lowly and humble before God and men.
John 13: 3-5 shares how Jesus served His disciples. “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
Jesus showed compassion
The Pharisees caught a woman in adultery and brought her before Jesus. He said whoever had not sinned should throw the first stone. One by one all of them left. “Jesus said, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? She answered, ‘No one, Lord!’ ‘Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more.’” (John 8: 10-11) Jesus was the only sinless person Who could stone her but He didn’t. Instead, He spoke to her kindly and encouraged her to give up sin.
Jesus cared about the people who followed Him. Matthew 15:32 says “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’” Jesus cared and provided their needs.
Jesus saw “a dead person carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. He said, ‘Don’t cry.’ He touched the bier they were carrying him on and said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” (Luke 7:12-15) Jesus cared for those who were helpless and in need.
Best Leader: Jesus came to serve
In Luke 22:25-26 Jesus said to His disciples, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves?”
Jesus said, “You are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven. And you must not be called masters (leaders), for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself [with haughtiness and empty pride] shall be humbled (brought low), and whoever humbles himself [whoever has a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly] shall be raised to honor.“ Matthew (23: 8-12)
Jesus pleased His Father
Jesus could have thrown His weight around, He did not do as He pleased. He said, “I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” (John 8:28b-29) We too need to learn how to please our heavenly Father as He did.
Being a leader is a very big responsibility. Luke 12:48 says, “For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more.” All leaders will one day have to give an account to God for all that He entrusted to their care.