March 11, 2025 | Be God's Family
Jesus Teaches about Servant Leadership
Scripture: Matthew 20:17-28(NIV)
17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, 18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 “What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Devotional
Jesus’ closing commentary in yesterday’s passage served as a prelude to today’s scripture reading. “So the last will be first, and the first will be last,” He concluded the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:16).
Jesus spoke frequently about putting others ahead of oneself and the willingness to take care of others first. We get bombarded by examples of businesspeople, politicians, and athletes, amongst others, who are constantly looking out for number one and ignoring the demand Jesus made.
While these headline-grabbing personas sometimes dominate the airwaves, I am regularly blessed by examples I see from people in my own circles (many from our congregation) who give of their time, talent, and treasure to put others’ interests ahead of their own in the business world, the classroom, and the playing field. I’ve seen compensation reduced to make sure employees get more, sleep lost so that volunteer projects are completed, and anonymous acts of kindness completed so that smiles appear on the faces of the unsuspecting recipients.
One of our great examples of servant leadership recently passed away. Jimmy Carter left political office 44 years ago and then spent the remainder of his days teaching Sunday School, overseeing third-world elections, leading Habitat for Humanity projects, and performing countless other acts of selfless service. Many claim he will be remembered far more for what he did after being president than while in office. He could have passed his days seeking financial riches and personal recognition but chose otherwise.
In today’s passage Jesus admonished James and John who, by way of their mother, pleaded to sit on each side of Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who want to be first must be willing to be humble, to serve, and to sacrifice. Jesus lived a perfect, sin-free life, suffered tremendous physical and emotional pain, and then died a horrific death to save the souls of those who have fallen and will continue to fall short. How about this as an example that epitomizes the definition of servant leadership?
While we can’t match Jesus’ magnitude of sacrifice, we can all seek to put others first and be servant leaders. If we spend our days doing all we can to help others to achieve their dreams, we can’t help but achieve our own.
What are you doing to put others’ interests ahead of your own? In what ways do you sacrifice your own ambitions for the sake of others?
Poem
Wanted: Servant Leader
Psalm 72
For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
Psalm 72:12-14
A classified ad
“Servant leader required
A righteous, pro-justice one
Only apply
We’re looking for one
Who will stand with the weak
Defend the afflicted
Stoop to serve the meek
“Endurance is needed
In times which are lean
Integrity flawless
By others be seen
A 24/7
Reply to the cries
Whose leadership brightens
Like the sun in the sky
“Providing encouragement
To those struggling along
Who joins in the labor
Who joins in the song
Of laborers chanting
To change toil into cheer
A servant who leads well
From year unto year”
To God be all praise now
For giving Your best
A great Servant Leader
Whom by all are blessed
O LORD make us able
To mimic Your Son
And be servant leaders
‘Til Your work is done
