Presented by Lauren Stibgen

Even though the phrase servant leadership isn’t a biblical term, the Bible does tell us as leaders to serve! I am so thankful for God’s Word and how it truly can inform how we work! Jesus tells us to serve in this passage.

Jesus said to them, “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 (Luke 22:25-26).

This verse follows a dispute among the disciples about who would be regarded as the greatest.

Although we don’t read as much detail about the last supper in Luke’s account, we need to consider how Jesus modeled servant leadership to the disciples that night.

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 (John 13:3-5).

Jesus knew he was all powerful. God had put all things under his power yet he took the posture of a lowly servant and washed his disciples’ feet, going as far as to use the towel on his body to dry them.

He did not exercise lordship over them and demand they wash his feet, rather as the leader, he was the one who served.

Do you exercise lordship, or, as a leader, do you serve? Maybe you are not yet thinking of yourself as a leader. Let’s remove the notions of worldly appointments and titles. Jesus was not considered a leader by the people of his time, at least not in the sense of the synagogue or even in politics. It was through his service of speaking the Word of God, healing the sick, and performing miracles that Jesus came to be seen as a leader. And for some, his leadership blessed them, and others, it threatened. He didn’t demand lordship as the Son of God, demanding to be followed. He was followed because he served!

If you find yourself in a position where you do hold a title, are you using this for the betterment of those who see you in this position? What do they see? Are you demanding respect or giving it? Are you watching your team struggle to complete work or are you seeking to help?