Leadership Redefined
“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
— Mark 10:43–45
In a culture that often equates leadership with power, control, and prestige, Jesus presents a counter-cultural model: servant leadership. In Mark 10:43–45, Jesus doesn’t just tweak our understanding of leadership; He completely overturns it. He teaches that true leadership is not about wielding power, but about wielding a towel – ready to serve.
This concept can be jarring, especially if we’ve grown up admiring leaders who project strength in more traditional ways. But Jesus’ model of leadership isn’t about diminishing strength; it’s about redefining it. It’s about leading from a place of humility and service, prioritizing others’ needs above our own, and finding greatness in the act of giving rather than receiving.
Consider Jesus’ own life as the epitome of this teaching. He healed, taught, washed feet, and ultimately laid down His life for others. His leadership wasn’t about making a name for Himself but about making a way for others. It was leadership that lifted others up, healed brokenness, and restored dignity.
Now, let’s bring it closer to home. How does this change the way you lead in your family, your workplace, your community, or your church? Imagine a leadership style that’s marked by a willingness to do the lowest job, to elevate others, to listen more than speak, and to give rather than take. This is the leadership Jesus calls us to emulate.
Leading like Jesus might mean being the first to arrive and the last to leave, the one who listens to the concerns of the least heard, or the one who steps up to do the thankless tasks. It’s a leadership style that doesn’t seek the spotlight but seeks to spread the light to others.
Today, as you reflect on Jesus’ radical teaching, ask God to show you areas in your life where you can lead through service. Pray for the wisdom to see opportunities to serve and the humility to act on them.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant me the wisdom and humility to lead through service. Help me to follow Jesus’ example in my daily life, seeing leadership as an opportunity to serve rather than to be served. May my leadership bring glory to You and uplift those around me. Amen.