TL;DR
Jesus modeled leadership rooted not in power, privilege, or prestige but in humility, self-sacrifice, and service. By washing His disciples’ feet, He demonstrated that true greatness in God’s Upside-Down Kingdom means serving others. Missionaries best reflect Christ through humble, Spirit-led service that helps others recognize Jesus as Lord and King. The page also includes an acrostic on servanthood.
Jesus approached leadership very differently from the way many people do. Think, for instance, about what Jesus did the evening before His arrest and crucifixion. With the excitement of the “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem a few days before still in the air, Jesus stunned His disciples by washing their feet. Peter protested, no doubt thinking of the status and privileges usually accorded leaders. Leaders—and especially the Messiah—did not perform menial tasks such as washing someone’s feet!
Peter and the other disciples should have caught on much earlier to Jesus’ servant approach to leadership. During Jesus’ three years of ministry, there was nothing pompous, self-promoting, or power-seeking about Him. Jesus did not expect the best seat. He almost seemed more comfortable spending time with people experiencing poverty than hobnobbing with the wealthy and powerful. He never sought headlines. He never “tooted His own horn.” Indeed, on more than one occasion, after healing someone or casting out a demon, Jesus said, “Don’t tell anyone.”
The Kingdom Jesus proclaimed is an “Upside-Down Kingdom.” Donald Kraybill described it in his book The Upside-Down Kingdom. He believed that phrase captured the essence of Jesus’ words: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16, 2011 NIV).
Sadly, Christian leaders sometimes fail to digest what Jesus said and did. Some have acted as though church leaders, including missionaries, are entitled to certain privileges and the “finer things of life” because they are “ambassadors of Christ” and “children of the King.” That is not true. We represent the King of an “Upside-Down Kingdom,” in which this world’s ambassadorial privileges and trappings are out of place. Leaders, especially cross-cultural missionaries, in the Upside-Down Kingdom must emulate Jesus by assuming a servant role, as He did that long-ago night in the Upper Room.
Being a servant leader does not come naturally. It requires conscious effort. However, missionaries who consistently follow Jesus’ model of servant leadership will nurture and develop Christ-centered movements in which Jesus truly reigns as Lord and King.
—Howard Culbertson, hculbert@snu.edu
This blog post on Christlike attitudes and actions that need to be present in cross-cultural missionary service was one of a dozen articles in the “Missionary Ministry that Reflects Christ” series published in Engage, an online magazine produced by the Church of the Nazarene.
The Kingdom Jesus proclaimed radically differs from earthly kingdoms led by human beings. Here are five reasons why the Kingdom of God is so different:
S — Seeking God’s will above their own
E — Encouraging others with grace and truth
R — Reflecting Christ in word and deed
V — Valiant in faith, even in trials
A — Available to serve, not to be served
N — Nurturing souls with wisdom and love
T — Trusting in God’s timing and purpose
H — Humble in spirit, strong in conviction
O — Obedient to Scripture and the Spirit
O — Overflowing with compassion and mercy
D — Dedicated to building the Kingdom of God
Like acrostics? Here are more of them.
