Unit 4. Walking the Servant Path with Jesus
Jesus presents service and leadership on the same pathway in our walk with Him. If the path is difficult or steep, it is because servant leadership is not promised to be easy. If it seems a dead end, is it because we do not read or follow His milepost–or because we simply do not see the end of the journey?
Activity 4:
- The following seven episodes from the life and teaching of Jesus simply introduce the biblical concepts of service and leadership.
- Study them carefully, reflect, make choices to put into your developing description of “servant leadership.”
- Pick out one or two texts to move you into a specific leadership situation in the next ten days. Write it down in Action Plan and act on it.
1) Jesus was very clear about His mission as a servant leader. (See Luke 4:14-21)
Early in His ministry Jesus came to His hometown, and against all odds proclaimed the nature of His lordship. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 (Commentary)
2) Jesus clearly taught that the life of a disciple/follower was the way of the cross–
high redemptive service, self-denial, and eternal investment. (See Luke 9:18-27) “Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?'” Luke 9:23-25 (Commentary).
3) Jesus taught the place of humility in practice rather than pride in position. (See Luke 14:7-14)
“But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted … But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:10-11, 13-14 (Commentary)
4) Jesus taught the universal priority of service to others, and offered himself as the ultimate example. (See Mark 10:35-45)
“Not so with you. Instead, 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
5) Jesus affirmed that in following him, we are entering into a vigorous workforce. (See John 9:1-5)
“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:4 (Commentary).
6) Jesus demonstrated the servant leadership principle by washing his disciples’ feet. (See John 13:1-17)
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:13-15 (Commentary).
7) Jesus commanded that service in his name was based on love–His and ours. (See John 13:31-38)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (Commentary).
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