Servant Leader
What do you need? Sometimes the answer to that question is obvious. If I’m hungry, I need food. If I’m destitute, I need money. If I’m lonely, I need companionship. But there are times when these immediate needs speak of deeper needs. I may need food and money because I refuse to work and can’t hold down a job. My deeper need is to develop a character and work ethic that will help provide food and money. I may be lonely because I’m impossible to get along with. My primary need is not a companion, but to become the person another person wants to be around.
A good leader sees the deeper needs and seeks to meet them so that those he leads may become whole, healthy people. Jesus gives us an example of this on the night he was betrayed, when he washed his disciples’ feet.
Jesus loved his disciples. He loved until the day that he died, when he gave everything for them (Jn 13:1). He loved impetuous Peter, the disciples who feared and doubted, and impenitent Judas. He loved them all to the uttermost, and he demonstrated that love in parabolic action when he washed their feet.
While John’s record focuses on Jesus’ act of service, two disciples stand out: Peter and Judas. Both received Jesus’ service. Each responded differently.
When Jesus comes to Peter, Peter, being Peter, objects to his Lord washing his feet. This is below his Lord’s station. “You shall never wash my feet,” Peter exclaims. Jesus tells Peter that if he doesn’t receive the washing, he has no inheritance with him. The pendulum swings the other way violently, and Peter wants his head and hands washed. Jesus told him that there was no need for that. Washing his feet was sufficient.
Jesus knew exactly what Peter needed, and Peter didn’t. In fact, Jesus told him that he didn’t understand and wouldn’t understand until after everything was accomplished (Jn 13:7). Jesus served Peter by giving him what he genuinely needed, not what Peter thought he needed.
The phrase “servant leader” is used in the Christian church today, grounded in Jesus’ words about the greatest among his disciples being the servant of all. While the title can be justified, the meaning stuffed into the semantic skin cannot. “Servant leader” has come to mean becoming a “Yes man” or saying, “Yes, ma’am.” A true, humble servant is a doormat for everyone’s perceived needs. Capitulation is true service. Never do we see Jesus doing this. Jesus didn’t say, “Peter, whatever you want. I’m here to serve you.” As the leader, Jesus’ responsibility was to understand the greater mission and, therefore, the true needs. He was then tasked with meeting those genuine needs. This meant saying, “No” to Peter’s false humility and then to his zeal without knowledge. Peter didn’t know what he needed. Jesus did, and he was lovingly unyielding to Peter.
After Jesus’ correction, Peter submits to Jesus and receives his grace. Judas, on the other hand, never objects to Jesus’ service, but doesn’t receive his grace. Judas remains unclean, even though his feet are washed by the Lord (Jn 13:10-11). His impenitent heart of betrayal accepts the washing but refuses Jesus’ service. Unlike Peter, who sees his error, Judas persists in his quiet rebellion. Yet Jesus offers him nothing more, even knowing that he is about to betray him. This is it. He has the offer of the grace of cleansing just as the other disciples. Jesus doesn’t beg, plead, or cajole. He lovingly offers. Though grace is given by the hands of Jesus himself, Judas refuses.
Servants are not greater than their Lord. If we, following Jesus, are called to offer grace to others, we can expect similar responses. There will be some who receive it. There will be others, like Peter, who zealously flail around until they are brought to their senses. There will be some who refuse. No husband, father, wife, mother, pastor, elder, deacon, or anyone else in authority will have a one hundred percent positive response rate. While we should consistently evaluate our approach, we should always seek to meet the genuine needs of those we serve and not capitulate to and, thus, enable, immature and sinful behavior. This requires that we understand what the genuine needs are, first, and then be lovingly unyielding to the whims or rebellion of those we serve
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