Jesus Really Understands Us

Theme: Christ, through His humanity, secured our great salvation which involves exalting believers, freeing us from the fear of death, and affording us the help of a compassionate High Priest in Heaven during temptations.  In addition, Christ’s humanity enables Him to understand our needs, challenges, and pains fully.

Introduction:

Where do you usually turn for comfort when you are hurting?

Perhaps you would say, “my spouse,” “my Bible,” or “prayer,” maybe “my Lord,” or your parents.  If things get bad enough (usually as an absolute last resort) we will turn to our pastor.  It is good if we turn to one of these especially if we go to the Lord Jesus first. 

There are; however, some less honorable options we sometimes resort to, like food (chocolate, cheesecake), shopping, a movie (escape), or travel (escape). Anything to escape being alone with our thoughts, anxieties, fears, and pain…. Unfortunately, these do not really change anything…they only exacerbate the problem. They mask the pain, but they cannot heal it.

Some of us even retreat within ourselves to nurse our wounds. Sulking in silence, brooding in utter bitterness, and refusing to admit we are hurting deeply. The problem is such bitter existence will only result in spreading our pain in the lives of others. Some people also seek comfort in the abuse of alcohol, over-the-counter drugs, illegal drugs, and even prescription drugs. Even Christians sometimes deal with pain in ways that seldom include looking to Christ for comfort.

It may surprise you to know how deeply the Lord Jesus understands our pain. Actually He suffered more deeply, persistently, and pervasively than anyone who has ever walked the earth. He is also the key to triumph over pain. Would you like to know how? Consider Hebrews 2 verses 10 through 14.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:10-15)

Lesson:

Why did God allow his Son to suffer? (Heb. 2:10-14) To answer this question honestly reveals the answers to our own pain. Yes, there were incredible situation changing purposes for the pain of our Lord Jesus Christ! The same is true for every genuine Child of God. Consider four biblical realities that reveal this vital and strengthening reality.

The Character of God 

Suffering is entirely consistent with the holy character of God, the Great Planner (2:10)—“For it became Him [Father]”.

The Plan. It was completely in keeping with the righteous character of God that man’s dominion should be restored through the humiliation of the Savior.  

Christ must suffer, bleed, and die to put away sin. Sin had disturbed God’s order. Before order could be brought out of chaos, sin must be dealt with righteously; that is in a manner worthy of a holy God (Rom. 3:21-26; 2Cor. 5:21). He sent His only begotten righteous Son to die in our place (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:6-10; 8:31-32). Thus God remains “just” and can “justify” the ungodly who trust Christ.

The Planner. The Father as the wise Planner is described as the One for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things. First the Father is the objective or goal of all creation; all things were made for His glory and pleasure. This defines the purpose of all men and everything else. But He is also the Source or Originator of all creation; nothing was made apart from Him (2:10). To live in His will is an expression of his design for us. Because everything belongs to God, He determines what sacrifice is necessary for sin. He, the Creator of the world, determined what was needed for our “great salvation.” (MacDonald)

The Purpose. His great purpose is bringing many sons unto glory. What does this glory consist of? Glorification includes immortality, moral perfection, spiritual power, liberty, reigning in the Kingdom of God, and sharing God’s glory forever! This incredible truth is well attested in the Scriptures (Rom 8:23; Phil 3:21; Rom 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:43-44; 1Thess 2:12; 2Tim 2:10-12; Rom 5:2; 1Thess 2:12; 2Thess 2:14; 1Peter 5:10).

When we consider our own unworthiness, it staggers us to think that Jehovah would have even bothered with us, but it is because He is the God of all grace (Heb. 2:9) that He has called us to His eternal glory (Heb. 2:10). Truly this is a “great salvation!”

We are destine to share in Christ’s glory and honor as fellow sons of God—what a marvelous-dignified-elevated future is ours (Rom. 9:23-24; 2Cor. 3:18; 2Cor. 4:17-18; Col. 3:4; 2Tim. 2:10; 1Pet. 1:5, 10).

In life or in death, God’s purposes will be accomplished and his promises to believers will be fulfilled because believers have been called into God’s eternal glory. God called—this was his initiative; therefore, he will do as he promised.  Why did Christ suffer?  Because it is the character of God to endure remarkable sufferings to secure our salvation—our highest eternal good!  How can I be comfortable with giving Him token and convenient service? Is it my purpose to bring many sons unto glory in concert with the purpose of God? (Wiersbe)

“Just A Little While”

For believers, suffering will not last forever. If you're under stress, if food is scarce, if disease is spreading, God promises that suffering will last "just a little while more."

No matter what trouble you face, hard as it is, God has stamped your life "temporarily out of order," with emphasis on "temporarily." A day is coming when the Great Repairman will wrench evil from the world and restore your life so that it works as God intended. You will be in mint condition, guaranteed to function as God designed.

Many times all we can do is trust God and look forward to Jesus' return, when God will restore us. Our hope is in him! –The Life Application Commentary Series 

The Captain of God 

Suffering was necessary to prepare Christ to be our perfect Captain of salvation (2:10).

His Passion. This is the cost of our glorification! The captain of our salvation had to be made perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 says: “Make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

Jesus Christ was perfect throughout His earthly experience (Heb. 4:15; 2Cor. 5:21; 1Pet. 2:22). As far as His moral character is concerned; the Lord Jesus was always sinlessly perfect. He could never be made perfect in this respect.

The word “perfect” means “complete, effective, and adequate.” According to Ex 29:33, 35, “to perfect” describes the consecration of the priests, and indicated the qualifying of a person for priestly service.  Jesus qualifies as High Priest because he has completely fulfilled his role as Messiah.

Jesus could not have become an adequate Savior and High Priest had He not become Man and suffered and died. (Wiersbe)

He was made perfect or adequate as our Savior and Intercessor. What does sufferings mean? Basically it means enduring hardship, affliction, pain, persecution, and Calvary. In order to purchase eternal redemption for us, He had to suffer all the punishment that our sins deserved. Christ’s death was punitive.

Besides being forsaken by God, and the extreme sufferings of His physical body, He was also brought into waters so deep, there was no place to stand. He endured extraordinary punishment, arising from the awful visions of the sins He had of His people, and of the wrath such sins deserved, and felt all those inward and painful sensations which such views provoked. In these things, no doubt, the sufferings of His soul far exceeded His physical agonies on the Cross, though these must have been colossal also.—The Biblical Illustrator

We could not be saved by His spotless life; His substitutionary death was an absolute necessity.

He must be made perfect for this role “through suffering.” Since His brethren must suffer, so must He if He is to be the kind of Captain we need. By having done so, He can give us the help we need (v. 18). (Walvoord)

Always bear in mind that God has a glorious purpose in sufferings and He uses such experiences to prepare us for ministry and leadership (2Cor. 1:3-7). Be mindful of this the next time you are dealing with the pains of this life; suffering is preparatory (Rom. 8:17-18).

Sharing with Jesus Christ … involves more than anticipating the glories of heaven. For Jesus Christ it involved suffering and abuse and crucifixion; therefore, being co-heirs with Christ requires that believers share in His sufferings (cf. John 15:20; Col. 1:24; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12). In fact believers do share in His sufferings… (cf. Rom. 8:9). Then after the suffering they will share in His glory (2 Tim. 2:12; 1 Peter 4:13; 5:10). –The Bible Knowledge Commentary

His Pioneering. Christ as the Last Adam is our Representative, but He is our Restorer as the Captain of salvation. That word Captain literally means “pioneer—one who opens the way for others to follow—a leader.” Christ gave up His glory to become man. He regained His glory when He arose and ascended to heaven. Now He shares that glory with all who trust Him for salvation (John 17:22–24). He is literally bringing an entire band of redeemed children to glory—great is our Restorer!

As lost children, we were once held in servitude by our enemy, Satan (2:14-15). Since we were human, our Captain had to become human and die for us, in order to rescue us.

His Path. In God’s eyes, Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for God’s people, pioneering their salvation through his suffering and death. Because humans experience suffering and death, Christ became fully human and experienced these aspects of being human as well. That Christ both lived and died gives us confidence that we have a High Priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (4:15). We have confidence that because Christ conquered death, he also can save us from death.–The Life Application Commentary Series

The Children of God

Suffering was necessary to sanctify and identify with God’s children (2:11-13). The next three verses emphasize the perfection of Jesus’ humanity. If He is going to regain the dominion which Adam lost, then it must be demonstrated that He is true Man.

Christ Sanctified Us. First, the fact is stated: For both He that sanctifieth and they who are [being] sanctified are all of one, that is, they are all possessors of humanity, and have the same origin; meaning that in our humanity, we all have one God and Father.

Christ is the One who sanctifies, that is, He sets apart or separates men to God from the world. Blessed are all those whom He thus sets apart! A sanctified person is set apart from ordinary uses to be for God’s own possession, use, and enjoyment. The opposite of sanctification is profanation.

Lookout for the various passages in Hebrews where sanctification is mentioned, and carefully determine which type of sanctification is in view.

Christ Identified with Us.  He is united to us, and we are united to Him: we are spiritually one. We are His “brethren” (Heb. 2:12). This quote from Psalm 22:22—a messianic psalm— refers to Christ and His church as His brethren. This means we and the Son of God share the same nature and belong to the same family! What a marvel of God’s grace!

He became a true Man therefore He is not ashamed to speak of His followers as brethren. Is it possible that the Eternal Sovereign of the universe should become man and identify Himself so closely with His creatures that He would call us brothers?

The answer is found in Psalm 22:22 where we hear Him say, “I will declare Thy Name unto My brethren.” The same verse also pictures Him as identified with His people in common worship, “in the midst of the church [assembly] will I sing praise unto Thee.” In His dying agony, He looked forward to the day when He would lead the ransomed throng in praise to God the Father.

We are all believers (Heb. 2:13). Christ’s humanity is demonstrated by the fact that He placed His trust in God. Implicit confidence in Jehovah is one of the greatest marks of true humanity.

Jesus lived in utter dependence on God and with complete confidence in God.  All of his brethren must live in the same faithful manner even in the midst of hard sufferings.

He can also speak to us of His own trust in God (v. 13a, quoting Isa. 8:17) and can regard us as the children God has given Him (Heb. 2:13b, quoting Isa. 8:18). Like an elder brother in the midst of a circle of younger children, the Captain of our salvation can teach us the lessons of faith along the pathway of suffering. (Walvoord)

Like those faithful to God in Isaiah's day, we should stay true to Christ and ignore the advice that would distract us from following him. –The Life Application Commentary Series

We are His “children” (Heb. 2:13).  Not only are believers His brethren, but we are also His children: “Behold I and the children which God hath given Me” (Heb. 2:13).

The Lord quoted Isaiah 8:18, which refers to the Prophet Isaiah and his unique sons who were given significant names (see Isa. 7:3; 8:1–4). But the ultimate reference is to Jesus Christ.

The thought is that we are members of a common family, acknowledging a common Father. If Jesus Christ had not come to earth and become man, He could not take us from earth to share in His glory. The Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection must go together. They all lead to glory for you and me.

The Conquest of God

Suffering was necessary to destroy Satan and the power of death (Heb. 2:14).

This exaltation, vaulting us far above the angels to be Christ’s brothers in God’s family, is also our deed to freedom. Satan, who held the power of death, was destroyed by Christ’s self-sacrifice. Now we are free.

By dying Christ was able to destroy …the devil. The author did not mean that Satan ceased to exist or to be active. Rather the word he used for “destroy” indicates the annulment of his power over those whom Christ redeems. –Bible Knowledge Commentary

Thus our greatest enemy has been subdued through Jesus Christ’s mighty Cross and resurrection! Christ did indeed suffer to demonstrate the character of God, to become the great Captain of our Salvation, to completely identify with the children of God, and to conquer Satan and his devices. Thus we are not alone in our pain…whatever it may be.

During the winter of 1777–78 the Continental Army of the rebelling American colonies shivered in Valley Forge while the British forces occupied and rested in Philadelphia. Conditions at Valley Forge were so miserable and supplies so inadequate that the desertion rate from the ranks of the Continentals exceeded the rate of arrival by new recruits.

The only reason the Continental Army survived at Valley Forge was because George Washington was with it. The impression Washington’s character had made on his men through months of service together inspired enough loyalty to keep the Continental Army intact and the British army bottled up.

Washington suffered with his men. He endured their privations and continually interceded with the Continental Congress for provisions and supplies. The troops in the huts who lacked boots, blankets, and food knew the General was their fellow-sufferer and champion with the powers-that-be.

Washington had come out of retirement to lead the Continental forces, and once the Revolution was successfully completed he tried to retreat once more to the beauty of Mount Vernon. (Source Unknown)

The letter to the Hebrews opened with grand assertions about the deity of the Son of God, His role in sustaining all of creation, and His superiority over the angels as the Revealer of the Father to humanity. This tribute of praise set the stage for the main idea Hebrews wants to express about the Son. This awesome Being has shared human nature and experience so fully that He is both Jesus the Son of God and the Son of Man. Hebrews emphasizes the genuine humanity of Jesus as well as Christ’s deity. It was this unique combination of humanity and deity that enabled Him to be both our Savior and our High Priest. Hebrews 4:15 states, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Whatever the test, pain, or form of suffering you are facing; turn to Jesus Christ the Son of God—the Son of Man. Why? Because He knows all pain fully, deeply, and pervasively! As the suffering Savior he understands. As our Great High Priest He provides help at our moment of need. You are not alone in your pain. Christ is with you in all of them. No, He does not shield us from all suffering…He instead uses pain to make us more like Himself. God uses suffering to prepare us for leadership and greater responsibility. Remember your destiny is glory through Jesus Christ! Trust Him with what hurts…. Approach Him with complete confidence in His unique ability to strengthen and sustain you through the ugliest and worst this broken world can belch out at us.

Yes, it is time to stop looking to temporary fixes, quick fixes, cheap substitutes, and mere brooding…. Step out of the darkness and enter the fellowship of grace, love, and power Jesus Christ affords those who trust Him with their pain.  

Earning The Privilege of Leadership!

Some families obviously stand out above the rest! When you meet them and as you get to know them, this conviction is strengthened. They are fresh and alive, and each family member is enthusiastic, motivated, and productive. When we look even closer at such families, we soon discover a spiritual leader who has qualities not found in the average person. He or she is the kind of leader who excels by employing a workable strategy. We want to be that kind of father and parent!

As a spiritual leader, Timothy was urged to conduct himself in a manner that no one would look down on his youthfulness in a condescending way. You know, “He is too young to lead himself, much less anyone else!” So Paul counselled Timothy to earn the respect of the people he was appointed to lead. But, how was he going to do that? How can we earn the privilege of leading others? Though we have the right and authority to lead, have we earned the privilege to influence the lives of others? Paul indicates we can earn the opportunity to truly influence others by becoming “an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”(1 Tim. 4:12). Though these guidelines apply to all areas of leadership application, I would like to apply these principles to a father and his family. This strategy also wonderfully applies to a single mother trying to raise her children in the Lord. Accordingly, a father or parent must provide a good example: Paul did not offer general motivations by merely saying “Be a good example.” No the faithful old apostle issued a checklist:

Be An Example With Your Words (1 Tim. 4:12)

The conversation of the servant of God is to be exemplary. Jesus made it extremely clear that whatever comes out of the mouth reveals what is in the person’s heart. Matthew 12:34, O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matthew 12:37, For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

      1.  Use True Words.

Proverbs 12:22, Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

      2.  Use Controlled Words.

In Eph. 4:26 Paul says, “be ye angry, and sin not.” There’s a place for holy wrath and righteous indignation, but not for the sin of anger—especially the smoldering kind that lasts into the next day and longer.

Proverbs 25:28, He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.  (See Col. 4:6).

      3.  Use Gracious Words.

Eph. 4:29 says, “let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.” The speech of a believer should never be less than pure. It is embarrassing to hear someone who claims to serve Jesus Christ speak ungodly words. That just reveals a dirty heart. There’s no place for corrupt or filthy communication in the Christian life.  Speech that glorifies God “is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (v. 29).

Be An Example Through Your Conversation (Conduct) 1 Tim. 4:12

You are to be a model of righteous living—a person who lives out his convictions based on Biblical principles. Nothing about you should cause shame for the name of Christ.  The things you do the places you go, the things you possess—every aspect of your life is a sermon.  That sermon either contradicts or substantiates what you say.

Make your example count through consistently emphasizing godliness.  Remember the future and welfare of your family is at stake. Lead them with your good lifestyle! We cannot become holy on our own, but God gave us his Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to overcome sin. Don't use the excuse that you can't help slipping into sin. Call on God's power to free you from sin's grip.

Be An Example Through Charity (Love) 1 Tim. 4:12

Ministering to your family in love doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a hugger and kisser. There is absolutely nothing at all wrong with warm expressions of family affection, but there is more to love than this. The Apostle Paul and Epaphroditus showed their love to the church by hard work (1Thess. 2:7-12); Phil. 2:27-30).  We all are to offer self-sacrificing service on behalf of others; this is especially true at home. 

When we say the right words and live the right way but lack love, we are demonstrating a wrong view of God's expectations (1 Cor. 13:1-7).   Love is a primary motivation in all of Christian living.  Love is made visible through actions of help, assistance, correction, affection, re-enforcement, and interest.  After words and actions have had their say, love makes the message ring true or false.  Little girls and boys need desperately the love of their godly father.  I still believe that the main key to preventing fornication among young unmarried people is the right kind of affection at home.  The same could be said for gangs, drugs, and alcohol.

Be An Example In Spirit (1 Tim. 4:12)

       1.  Inner Enthusiasm. ‘In spirit’ . . . describe the inner enthusiasm and excitement of a child of God” says Warren W. Wiersbe. Therefore, the word “spirit” refers to excitement, eagerness, intensity, passion, exuberance, and zeal.  It describes the child of God as bubbling over with an irrepressible fervor.

       2.  Spiritual Enthusiasm.  Guy King concluded that “spirit” refers to enthusiasm and describes it as a:

“ . . . . quality strangely lacking from the make-up of many Christians.  Plenty of enthusiasm  for a football match, or for an election campaign, but so little of it for the service of God.  How the magnificent enthusiasm of the Christian Scientists, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Communists should put us to shame.   Oh for the flaming zeal again that once the church knew.  This fine spirit will greatly help Timothy as he seeks to consolidate the position and to advance the line.” —Guy King, Leader, 79

The excellent parent is to exemplify spiritual enthusiasm in his Life, Labor and to his Lord.  How shameful it is to see the Lord’s servants work with a poor, reluctant, complaining spirit, or with little excitement, or enthusiasm about the work of the Lord.  Just one extra-long drawn out drudgery!   

Be An Example In Faith (1 Tim. 4:12)

The word “faith” carries the idea of ‘faithfulness,’ ‘trustworthiness,’ ‘consistency’ or ‘fidelity.’                                                                                                                          

     1.  Faith Is Made Evident in Faithfulness.

Timothy was to be consistent, faithful, and trustworthy in his ministry. People can follow that kind of a leader.  Consistency separates those who succeed from those who fail.

1 Cor. 4:2, Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

At all times and in all trials show your family, how they ought to maintain unshaken confidence in God by your example!  Weather it is tithing, soul winning, singing, praying, Bible reading, burden bearing, or waiting on God; be faithful at all times.

      2.  Faith is Made Evident in Fidelity.  (Dependability)

Fidelity is being faithful to your Ministry, to your flock, to your class, to your home and family, to the public, and certainly to your God. Fidelity means the people who know you have NO doubts about you; they are free to depend on you always without regret or reluctance.

           a. Preserving All. Fidelity consists in honestly keeping, preserving, and coming through when required. This involves whatever is entrusted to our care. It is preserved from lose or damage in our care.  This is the goal of every godly father—he desires to preserve his entire family from sin, Satan, and hell. 

           b. Improving All. Improving whatever is placed in our trust for improvement.  It is better than it was because of our faithful care.  Seek to develop servants for Jesus Christ through your family ministry is the idea here. While it is wonderful when a family produces a good doctor, a solid lawyer, a business strategist, a strong godly pastor, the aim is to fully develop each family member to reach their potential in Christ!

The Lord Jesus Christ was absolutely faithful to His Father and as a Good Steward of the Disciples that the Father gave Him, He lost none of them.  Every genuine convert was preserved and improved under the Lord Jesus’ faithful care and ministry! John 17:12, While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

John 18:9, That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Beloved, decide that you will lose nothing that God commits to your charge, and you will improve every precious gift that He gives.  Every person, opportunity, moment, and ability faithfully employed in His work to preserve and improve what He gave you to work with! Preserve and improve your family—you are the leader. By the grace of God take the initiative. Don’t be a hit and miss dad who emphasize spiritual and family matters for a short period and then forget all about it, but be consistent and faithful to your family. They need a faithful investor into their spiritual and moral welfare. They require a model to follow; the model you provide them. Decide to provide them with that mentor and example every day and always. Give them the kind of attention that will shape them for Christ.

Be An Example of Purity (1 Tim. 4:12)

Paul ended emphasizing virtue and chastity. The word “purity” refers not only to sexual chastity, but also to the motives and intents of the heart.  If your heart is pure, your behavior will be pure as well.  This implies integrity and consistency and reinforces the entire list. History has shown us that a family can be devastated by sexual impurity on the part of the parents. Men in leadership are vulnerable in that area when they let their guard down. We all must maintain absolute moral purity. Parents cannot effectively influence their children to be pure, when they are unwilling to live out this standard for themselves. Do as I say, and not as I do simply does not fly!
These are all vital constituents of Christian living. Carelessness in any one of these areas can spell failure and even disaster. The above qualities are to be developed, not just for public display, but as the uniform texture of our life.

Some families stand out visibly above the rest! They are fresh and alive, and the people involved are enthusiastic, motivated, and productive. Looking behind the scenes, you find a leader who has qualities not found in the average person. He or she is a leader who excels. Be that kind of father!

Servant Leadership is God’s Idea

Myriads of leadership definitions, styles, and models can be found in the modern world. Some of them are quite situational and specific, while others are far more generic with broader applications. Certainly examples of “good” and “bad” leaders with their predominating style could be appealed to for arguing for the superiority or inferiority of one to another. Often these opinions hail from humanistic, psychological, and/or philosophical perspectives. I personally wonder what God’s view of leadership consists of. Because there is a perennial necessity for leadership in all facets of society and on every level of any organization, God must have addressed, emphasized, and prescribed it. My assumption is that any divine contributions to the subject of leadership will be fundamentally authoritative. Additionally, biblical insight could add a clarifying nuance and dimension to the topic that is plainly missing in many treatments. While it is not my aim to exhaust the subject of leadership from a biblical standpoint, humanity can only be enriched by God’s perspective! The vital functions of leadership are applicable to the individual, family, society, industry, country, and the world. Therefore, I think it prudent to entertain the notions of leadership and servant-leadership from a biblical perspective.

What Is Leadership?

Foundational to the effectiveness of our purpose, leadership must be defined as God designed it. It is appropriate to frame the concept in His specific terms. This takes us back to the very beginning of time. A journey to the genesis of the universe also affords us a chance to develop a mosaic of leadership strictly according to God’s ideal. One key is to probe deeply into God’s designs for humanity on the earth; leadership is evidently essential to purposeful human experience.

In Genesis 1:26, Moses wrote, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” The “image of God” can be comprehended as ‘like God’ and ‘representing’ God. One implication of this statement, among several, is that God is the supreme leader and humanity is to reflect this function in society as His representatives. The word “dominion” means “to rule, have dominion, or to dominate” according to the Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Strong, 1890, 2006). The nature of this rule is sovereign. At this stage of history the ideas of evil domination, abuse of authority, or harsh subjugation should not be associated with this passage nor with the divine concept of leadership. Adam was to represent God on earth as his sovereign earthly ruler over all the rest of creation. John MacArthur agrees in The MacArthur Study Bible (1997) noting this word “dominion” defines man’s unique relation to the rest of creation. Adam was God’s representative while ruling over the earth. God’s command to rule distinguished Adam from the other creatures and defined his relationship as above creation (see Ps. 8:6–8). Thus, God installed the role of leadership from the very beginning; it is a crucial facet of His original design. In addition, Adam was to exercise his sovereignty by serving all creation. He was divinely commissioned to lead all under his authority, and develop all to ensure the world realizes its full potential to the glory of God. Though he was leader over all, his function was service to all at the very core.

This definition affords some insight into leadership, responsibility, accountability to God, purpose, proper authority and motivation. Adam was to serve God by leading; he also was to serve all living creation by providing leadership. The God of creation cherishes order, purpose, and design and deemed these good for earthly experience; he installed leadership to sustain these values. He created human leadership to compliment and maintain this order in the earth; Adam’s authority extended as far as necessary to satisfy this requirement. Furthermore in this notion, God provides the following: values, purpose, vision, mission, strategy, human resources, and governance. As the Supreme Leader, He supplies these essential elements. Obviously, God’s design for the universe is good and so is His plan for human experience. Through human agency such values were to be propagated throughout the entire world; they were to be perpetuated down through the ages. Humanity and all living creatures were to be enriched by divinely appointed leadership and wisdom pursuant of the will of God. This is an important function in God’s plan. Leadership affording meaningful and valuable service is a part of that original design. Adam was created and called to this service as God’s representative.

Sin of course defaced and skewed this plan so significantly that redemption of creation was necessary (Rom. 8:18-25). Leadership through human agency has been absolutely corrupted and severely devastated by sin. Universally, humanity is plagued with corruption, selfishness, abuses, negligence, manipulation, lack of accountability, and lording over others out of fear, pride, or flawed ideology. One mere glance at the political climate in our nation’s capital will roundly confirm this analysis. Conflict, aggression, suffering, subjugation, and the need for submission became realities with the advent of sin (Gen. 3). A sense of calling and serving the welfare of others has been monumentally discarded; though these values are clearly articulated by leaders on every level of civilization, we are justifiably skeptical. Scores of politicians make great promises in order to portray themselves as champions of the people’s welfare and interests, but the vast majority of them are skillfully deceptive and selfishly driven. In contrast, leadership in its purest form is available from God alone, and servant leadership was brilliantly modeled by the Lord Jesus during his earthly humiliation (Phil. 2:1-11). Biblical history affords several models of leadership through God’s servants, inept puppets, and godless tyrants down through the centuries, but all of them were gravely impacted by sin. Like humanity and all of creation, leadership requires redemption.

The term leadership has at least four ways it is used in the English language. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (1996) defines leadership as a certain occupation in an organization, aptitude for directing others, occasions of affording guidance, and the collective body of administrators in an organization. Modern students of leadership theories basically associate leadership with the capacity to lead others and with instances of providing leadership. They strenuously resist the notion of leadership as a mere position, or the function of a few at the top of an organization. Consider the perspective of renowned leadership authority John Maxwell. In Developing the Leader Within You (1993, p. 1, 2), he largely rejects the idea of leadership as a position saying, “…I have come to this conclusion: Leadership is influence. That’s it. Nothing more; nothing less.” James C. Georges, of the ParTraining Corporation, when asked: “What is leadership?” responded saying, “Remove for a moment the moral issues behind it, and there is only one definition: leadership is the ability to obtain followers…” (Maxwell, 1993). Accordingly, leadership is the ability to influence people to follow you, and is rightly tethered to our actual function regardless of our position in an organization.

In addition, Paul Chappell (2008) in The Spiritual Leader agrees with this view writing, “Leadership is influence. When God entrusted you with the call to lead, He entrusted you with influence for Him.” Speaking strictly from a spiritual perspective, leadership is influence for God: the ability to obtain followers to accomplish God’s will. Essentially, it is inspiring, impacting, and impressing others to follow God’s lead in their individual and cooperative experiences. The individual is redeemed through faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 10:8-17; 1 Pet. 1:18-25). Leadership is redeemed when it fits God’s design, embraces Christ’s model, and advances God’s will. First, this requires revisiting Genesis to note God’s leadership design, style, priorities, and prescription for humanity. Secondly, it involves directing, developing followers, and achieving God’s purposes with and through them as the Lord Jesus did. 

What Is Servant Leadership?

Servant leadership is a values-based leadership theory and practice that concentrates on serving first and leading as an expression of service. It was Robert K. Greenleaf (1904-1990) who crafted the modern concept of servant leadership in his famous essay The Servant as Leader (1970). In practice servant leaders achieve results for their organizations by giving priority attention to the needs of their colleagues and those they serve. Contemporary proponents of servant leadership define it as a management philosophy. This implies an all-inclusive perspective of the quality of people, work, and community spirit. Note the words of Greenleaf (1970),

The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions…. The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.

Commonly leadership strategies are generally categorized as autocratic, bureaucratic, participative, and laissez-faire theories and philosophies (http://www.mindtools.com). Servant leadership is best linked to the participative management genre. In Christian applications, it is a sound organizational leadership strategy, excellent discipleship/mentoring approach and it disseminates wholesome ideals and values throughout an organization. In a world where values and ethics carry greater significance, servant leadership is a more attractive strategy (http://www.mindtools.com). The authoritarian leadership style, which thrives on wielding and concentrating power in an individual, is not particularly compatible with the fundamental guiding principle of service first. The most important goal of a servant leader is to inspire, reassure and facilitate the growth and development of subordinates to their fullest potential (https://greenleaf.org), and the laissez-faire leadership style is incompatible with this worthy objective. Servant leadership automatically engenders a strategic obligation to delegate responsibility, and involves others in participative decision-making. Growing and developing people to their full potential are God’s original designs for human leadership (Gen. 1:26-28). Servant leaders seek to develop and disciple as a priority.

There are scores of reasons why the servant leadership model commends itself to both individuals and institutions. Greenleaf (1970) expressed this saying,

The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?

Clearly, servant leadership requires spiritual understanding of identity, mission, vision and environment. Acting first as a responsible servant in the world, he or she contributes to the welfare of both individual and community. A servant leader selflessly and faithfully provides meaningful assistance resulting in the growth of those they lead. They really believe contented and properly motivated people have greater capacities for reaching their potential and fulfilling the requirements of the mission (Greenleaf, 1970).

While Greenleaf’s concept of servant leadership is quite beneficial, there is an ancient concept of servant leadership that predates his. It is articulated in the Scriptures by none other than the Lord Jesus Christ two thousand years ago. Consider what He said to His own disciples in Matthew 20:25-28,

…Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. [26] But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; [27] And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: [28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

In this passage, the Lord Jesus framed servant leadership in terms of service, selflessness, and sacrifice. Though the term ‘servant leader’ does not appear in this passage, the words “servant” and “minister” as a leadership strategy do. They refer to voluntary and sacrificial service. This is Christ’s counsel to His first followers and precisely what He modeled for our instruction and application. Such leaders possess a servant’s heart and exemplify sacrifice. The evils of pride, self-promotion, manipulation, and controlling dominance portrayed by the leaders of the nations are absolutely foreign to the idea the Lord Jesus advocates. Likewise, servant leadership is equally unfamiliar to the modern world at large. Though there is a growing interest in this worldview of leadership, it remains in sharp contrast to the familiar models of selfishness, distrust, pride, and looking out for number one. Again the motivations for servant leadership are more internal than external. What Jesus Christ calls his followers to become is servant leaders—people who serve first, who are selfless in their motives, and who are willing to sacrifice when necessary in order to serve.