Daily D – Mark 9:33-37
Mark 9:33-37 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.” (CSB)
Mark 10:42-45 Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to 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.” (CSB)
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Mark’s Gospel helps us see how people misunderstand Jesus and how Jesus corrects their thinking. It also shows us how people misunderstand leadership and how Jesus models and clarifies what authentic leadership looks like.
Jesus teaches his followers to lead themselves and others by following him and doing what he did.
Self-promotion is not the Jesus way. If you pay close attention to Jesus’ healing activity in Mark, you hear him instruct people again and again not to tell what he had done for them. However, some secrets are too big to keep, and people must tell somebody about what Jesus did for them. Notice how Jesus was not seeking crowds, but crowds were always seeking him. Mark 9:15 is one example:
“When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him.”
Mark 9:15 CSB
Command and control is not the Jesus way of leadership except in moments of extreme urgency. This means a lot of today’s Christian leaders need to re-enroll in the Jesus Seminar on Leadership. It’s only permissible to shout when the wind and waves threaten to sink your boat. Let me know how that turns out, by the way.
Even in the most extreme moments of Jesus’ death on the cross, he spoke gently and whispered his prayers. (See all that Psalm 22 says beyond, “Why have you forsaken me?”) His only shout was a declaration that the debt for our sins was paid in full.
A young pastor, a seminary graduate serving in one of his first ministry assignments, decided it was his job to preach and teach and lead. He felt no compulsion to provide pastoral care or form more than surface-level relationships with his congregation. You may not be surprised to learn that he was fired from his position.
How could things have worked out differently if he had led like Jesus? While we can never know for sure, we can guess with significant accuracy.
Jesus offered instruction and example regarding leadership in the two paragraphs above. Here’s what he said and did:
1. Lead by serving.
2. Serve first, last, and always.
No dictators need apply. No taskmasters are welcome. No competition is appropriate.
See what needs doing and do it.
Laugh as often as possible.
Turn labor into games.
Isn’t this what children do? “Pick up your socks and put them in the hamper,” means “See from how far away you can throw your socks and have them land in the hamper.”
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I will lead myself and others by serving first, last, and always.
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Our Father, I am hereby putting away my bossy pants. I’m not in charge, you are. Teach me what I need to learn. Show me what I need to do. Empower me to do your will your way. Amen.
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