If I had to choose one text or concept that outlined Jesus’ teaching on leadership, I would probably point to Mark 10:35-45, when James and John asked Jesus to sit at his right and left in glory.

What Jesus says in Mark 10 contradicts many popular resources on leadership available in North America today, even some leadership books with a “Christian” slant.

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” ³⁶ And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” ³⁷ And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” ³⁸ Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” ³⁹ And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” ⁴¹ And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. ⁴² And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ^[1]

Source: Mark 10:35–45 (ESV)

The setting: Two disciples, John and James, approach Jesus privately for privileged positions of power. Some may approve of their initiative—after all, if you don’t ask, you won’t get.

Their request comes on the heels of Jesus’ pronouncement (for the third time) of his impending arrest, torture, and death by crucifixion. The “leaders” in Jerusalem – both Roman and Jewish – will direct these unjust and gruesome actions. We shouldn’t forget that Jesus also declares he will be raised to life—the resurrection—which trumps the best efforts of the political, military, and religious “leaders.”

Jesus is blunt with them. “You do not know what you are asking.” Uh Oh! We just stepped in it they must be thinking. But the press on, nonetheless. If we go to Jesus and ask to be a leader, he has a blunt answer for us as well.

Jesus asks the two brothers questions, and they press back with a can-do response (another laudable attitude in modern leadership material).

When the other disciples find out about this private audience, they are indignant with James and John. It seems the others were expressing their displeasure at having been outmaneuvered.

My conclusion is that none of them ‘got it.’ They didn’t understand true leadership.

The dominant model: Jesus features the leadership model of Romans, Greeks, and just about everyone else throughout history—even in our here and now. The Master Jesus lays it out for us in Mark 10:42 (NIV): “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials [in Greek, megas] exercise authority over them.”

One commentary puts it in these terms: “they throw their weight around, and they … play the tyrant.”

This model can be dressed in the clothes of a benefactor: “I load this burden on you and boss you around for your benefit; I do it for your own good.” And so, these leaders consolidate power and position and accumulate wealth and status. Sound familiar?

It is not too far off from many approaches to leadership today although they may be camouflaged or soft-pedaled.

What does Jesus teach in its place?

3 steps toward leadership—Jesus’ way

Jesus presents true leadership in three steps.

First, the dominant leadership model is disqualified. Jesus states: “Not so with you” (NIV), or “among you it will be different” (NLT).

Any model of so-called leadership that advocates the use of power over, control over, manipulation of, or domination exposes itself for what it is.

Second, he tells them how his way of leading is different (Mark 10:43-44): “Whoever wants to become great [megas] among you must be your servant [diakonos], and whoever wants to be first must be slave [doulos] of all.

Jesus turns the dominant model on its head. Within the dominant model, the great (the megas) exercise authority over others. Within the way of Jesus, the great (the megas) “must be your servant.”

He adds that a person who leads in the Jesus way is not just a servant (diakonos), but a slave (doulos).

C. Trench writes that a doulosis “one that is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will altogether swallowed up in the will of the other. He is a slave.” This is not a temporary condition until leadership is secure; it is not a figurative statement as if he doesn’t mean what he says.

Third, what does true leadership look like? Jesus not only tells us, he shows us.  Jesus is the ultimate example (Mark 10:45): “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.”

A true leader not only serves those being led, the degree of such service is self-sacrifice. In Jesus’ case, it led to his death by crucifixion on behalf of others.

3 practical observations 

Here are three observations about Jesus’ core teaching on leadership.

1. When our question is “Who is the greatest?”—we don’t get it. This may be spoken or unspoken. It manifests itself in many ways. Jesus is not going to answer this question. Rather, he is asking the crucial question: “Who is serving?”
2. Elsewhere Jesus says to his disciples, “You are not greater [megas] than me” (John 13:16). If a person is seeking to be great that person doesn’t understand his or her relationship to the Master Jesus well, or at all. Do we tend to domesticate or tame what Jesus is saying? A true leader is not only subject to Jesus the Messiah in mind, will, and body; a true leader is serving Jesus the Messiah by serving his people.
3. Jesus is not teaching mere theory. This is the stuff of real life. A trueleader is called to be serving those that are led. It is dynamic, effective, and real.

If you’re not a little frightened by what Jesus is saying about true leadership—you probably don’t get it.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mk 10:35–45). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.