DAILY REFLECTION HOW TO

Leaders in our day are often anything but servants as they seek power and glory. This notion can be as counterintuitive and countercultural as it was in the first century. We who follow Jesus today are called to servant leadership. A diakonos (The word sometimes referred to a table waiter.) cared for the needs of others rather than his or her own needs. Rather, it denotes a person who serves in some subservient and humble role. The word translated here as “servant” is diakonos, from which we get our word “deacon.” But the Greek word doesn’t refer to someone in church leadership. The Greek original of this reads more literally, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.” The way of glory, the way of authority, the way of leadership is the way of servanthood. “Whoever wants to be a leader among you,” Jesus said, “must be your servant” (10:43). But followers of Jesus must walk a different path. Gentile leaders “lord it over their people” and “flaunt their authority” (10:42). Jesus seized this teachable moment to reveal something radical about his understanding of leadership. They also wanted exceptional glory and power.

It’s also likely that the other disciples secretly wished they had beaten James and John to the punch. Partly they were angry over the arrogant audacity of James and John. After Jesus explained to the brothers that they really had no idea what they were asking, the other ten disciples became upset. In such positions, they would receive both honor and exceptional authority. James and John had come to Jesus asking to share in his glory by sitting on his right and left hand (10:37).

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”

DAILY REFLECTION HOW TO

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Daily reflection