In the Bible, several passages deal with our current theme of “Jesus Christ our Model Leader on Earth,” and this devotional’s sub-theme of “Jesus Christ: His Mission.”
We’re going to look at a few of those passages and draw lessons from the leadership model of Jesus Christ and His Mission to inspire us.
This study will enable us to identify six types of leadership, namely:
1. Sacrificial leadership
2. Gathering leadership
3. Exemplary leadership
4. Values-based leadership
5. Servant leadership
6. Visionary leadership
Last time we looked at the first three types and now we will cover the last three types on the list.
4. Values-based leadership (John 8:31)
Jesus, the world leader par excellence, declared: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples: you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31).” Or the truth will set you free, according to other translations.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), which was an answer He gave to Thomas in an emotional exchange as He prepared the disciples for His departure.
In His mission, Jesus came to bring us the Word of God, of which He Himself is the incarnation (John 1:1ff.). By abiding in His Word, and therefore in Him,” He says, “We will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.”
The values of truth and freedom are fundamental for the transformation of man and society. The value of truth also refers to the values of justice, honesty, and uprightness—in short, the value of integrity. The value of freedom refers to the value of independence, self-control, and so on.
So to know the truth is to know Jesus. It means being truly free from the devil (the father of lies), from the world and its attractions, from the flesh and its passions—in short, free from sin. In the leadership we exercise by having Jesus within us, considering His mission, and imitating His model, we manage to exert influence on those around us and society in general by and thanks to the virtues or moral values that characterize us as a result. These moral values have a spiritual root and lead us to live a life and a society that is centered on Jesus, the true vine, while we are His branches (John 15:1-2).
These values include truth, justice, honesty, righteousness, integrity, freedom, and independence.
“Speak the truth each to his neighbor” (Zechariah 8:16).
“…the truth is gone” (Isaiah 59:15).
Reflection: What values does my leadership lack in order to maximize my influence in my group, ministry, or society, in light of Jesus’ mission and leadership model?
5. Servant leadership (John 10:10)
Jesus, in His servant leadership, spoke up and said,”…I have come that the sheep may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). And in the same chapter, He also said: “Here am I, the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved; he will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). In the Gospels, there are other passages that show this service orientation of Jesus’ leadership. This is particularly noticed when He washed the disciples’ feet (John 13) or served them bread and wine (Matthew 26:26-29). Here, we see Jesus defining Himself as the “door” through which we obtain salvation and find pasture and abundant life.
These blessings of pasture and abundant life show us that Jesus is a servant leader who is serving us. For herding peoples, the understanding of someone who provides for green pastures in the dry season means that he is doing you a sublime service that prevents mortality to livestock. It’s a great service. Jesus acts in us and for us—like a good shepherd so that we lack nothing. He leads us into His green pastures for His name’s sake, and directs us by the still waters (read Psalm 23).
Thanks to this way of providing for us, caring for us, and satisfying us, we have an abundant life. This is true whatever the nature of our legitimate needs.
By imitating His leadership and taking into account this dimension of His mission (Door and Shepherd), we must develop and exercise servant leadership to improve the situation of our fellow human beings and contribute to peace, tranquility, and security in the world. With the exhortation taken from Matthew 25:31ff, Jesus shows us the way par excellence to exercise servant leadership towards those around us who are hungry, thirsty, or who are sick, prisoners, naked strangers, or foreigners.
By imitating Jesus’ leadership, and according to His mission, we must help them, without forgetting the rest.
6. Visionary leadership (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus Christ, at the close of His mission on earth to save mankind, and after His resurrection, made a shattering declaration like no man has ever spoken or can ever speak. He said: “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Here He enters another dimension of His mission; a kind of post-initial mission, or a complementary mission in which He declares that He has received all power on earth and in heaven. It is the greatest power.
Based on this supreme power, and flowing from it, He also mandates His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19, 20). What an extensive mandate! It is thanks to this supreme order, and this great commandment, that we too have become His disciples. We must therefore win and continue to win souls for Christ. Herein lies the quality of visionary leadership. It’s thanks to this vision of the Leader Jesus, that we have over two billion Christians in the world today.
In carrying out His mission, Jesus had the vision to continue it through us and to extend it everywhere and over many generations (until His return). It was a planetary and long-term vision. It is the mission to proclaim the Gospel and extend the Kingdom of God on earth.
Reflection: Where am I in fulfilling the supreme order to make disciples of Jesus among the nations?
What challenges do I face in my vision of the work God has entrusted to me, my ministry, or my vision of any other work that I do, and how can I revise this vision according to the mission and leadership model of Jesus Christ?
May God bless each of us in this meditation to be leaders according to the model of Jesus Christ and following His mission.
Conclusion:
May God help us for the rest of our lives to understand Jesus’ mission, to pursue it according to the supreme order, and to imitate His model of leadership during our life on earth.
