What is servant leadership?
Two brothers asked Jesus for the top seats in His kingdom, and the other ten were furious — so the Lord took the whole quarrel and turned it inside out. He did not tell them to stop wanting greatness; He told them where greatness is actually found, and pointed to Himself as the proof.
Greatness Turned Upside Down
The ambition was not unique to James and John. Every one of the twelve had it, and the Lord aimed His answer at the shared root rather than at the two who happened to say it out loud.
William KellyHe put His finger on that very love of greatness in themselves. They were loud in condemning it in James and John, but their feeling betrayed the same thing in their own hearts... There is a difference between the two words. The word translated "servant" means one who serves. But in the next verse it is a bondman or slave. Do you want to be really great according to the principles of My kingdom? Go down as low as you can. Do you want to be the greatest? Go down the lowest of all. Whoever has least of self is greatest in the Lord's eyes.
Not The World's Pattern
The rulers of the nations lead by throwing their weight around. The danger for the Lord's followers is not that they will reject that model outright, but that they will drift into it without noticing.
F. B. HoleHow easy it was, and is, for the disciples of Jesus to accept and adopt the standards and customs of the world that surrounds them, to take for granted that, because everybody seems to be doing it, it is the right thing to do. Again and again our Lord would say to us, "But it shall not be so among you." ... Among disciples of the Lord greatness is displayed in an entirely different way. There true greatness is shown in taking the lowly place of service to others — serving the Lord in serving them.
Servant Of All, Not Servant Of Some
There is a kind of service that still feeds pride, because of who is being served. The Lord's word closes that escape route.
Hamilton SmithIf anyone desires to be first in the kingdom, let them be last in the path that leads to glory — let them become the "servant of all." We might be prepared at times to serve some great person, or some devoted saint, and exalt ourselves by doing so; but are we prepared to be the "servant of all"?
Ambition For Position
Aiming at the front place is not simply a lesser way of following Christ. Commentators put it starkly.
The Christian's FriendAnyone who seeks to be great, and to take the lead among Christians, has completely falsified the Christian character. He will be the last of all; and the true way of having the highest place is to serve, considering oneself the slave of the needs of other disciples.
How Oversight Is Meant To Work
Where the New Testament does give real responsibility to leaders, it hedges it about with the same principle. Peter, writing to elders, tells them to shepherd God's flock, and then says how.
William KellyShepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight not by necessity but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. How every word shines with the light and love of God, yet how forgotten in Christendom!
What It Looks Like In Practice
On the last night, the Lord washed His disciples' feet and told them to do the same for one another. That act gives the abstract principle a shape.
C. E. StuartCare for each other, and interest in each other, could be shown by washing the feet — that is, bringing the Word of God to bear on another person, if the occasion calls for it. Much wisdom and grace is surely needed for such a service to be rightly done... And we do well to remember that besides the washing there is the drying. The service, when done, should be treated as finished; and the failure that called for it should then be buried, so as not to be brought up against the person in the future.
The Road That Ends In Honour
Joseph, sold by his brothers and later ruling Egypt, is read by commentators as a picture of this same order — down first, then up.
Hamilton SmithThe one who will one day be supreme must first be a servant. The place of supremacy is only reached by the path of service... In this the Lord Himself is the perfect example of His own teaching, for He can say, "I am among you as the one who serves." And because He "emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant... and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross," therefore "God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name."
Summary
- Down — Greatness in Christ's kingdom is measured by descent, not height: go as low as you can, and whoever has least of self stands highest in the Lord's eyes.
- Down further — The second word He uses is stronger than the first: not just a servant, but a slave, the servant of all — including those who bring you no credit.
- Down to death — He set the standard Himself, coming not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom, so the pattern is the cross, not a management style.
- Not down over others — Real oversight shepherds willingly and eagerly, never domineering, leading by example rather than by weight of office.
- Then up — The path of service is the only road to the place of supremacy; He took it first, and God has highly exalted Him.