Leadership 2.0; John 13

May the mumbling commence!

Alright, I admit it.  I have a three-and-a-half-year-old son.  And I watch some PBS Kids shows.  One of these shows is Sesame Street.  There is a segment in Sesame Street that is called “Super Grover.”  Well, if you haven’t watched Sesame Street for awhile, it is now “Super Grover 2.0”.  It is a new and improved Super Grover, who shows up and uses his powers of observation and technology to solve problems (which incidentally are usually solved by whoever Super Grover is trying to help). 

Well, Jesus has given us a new and improved way of leadership.  I will call it Leadership 2.0.  Jesus demonstrated this new kind of leadership in many ways.  One way is recorded in John chapter 13.  Read the passage below:

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.  After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 

"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 

"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" 

Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."  For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.  "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 

I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' 

I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.  I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." (Verses 1-20)  

Jesus put himself in the role of a servant to his students.  He did not take his leadership lightly, but Jesus did practice leadership in a different way.  In Mennonite and Church of the Brethren circles, we would call this style of leadership servant leadership.  It is leadership not from a lofty white tower but it is a leadership from below.  And Jesus calls us to this same kind of leadership.

Godly leaders must go one step further than leveling the playing field.  To be Christ-like godly leaders must lead from below.  Godly leaders count themselves as servants – first to the Lord then to the people they lead.  This kind of loving service means that we are not hesitant to get dirty and serve those people that the wider world tells us should be serving us. 

To get to the top of the heap – to be “King of the Mountain” – we need to seek the bottom.  Then God and those we serve will lift us up to the very top in the kingdom of heaven.  From a worldly perspective, that’s leadership on its head. 

It is Leadership 2.0 – Jesus style. 

Let’s reboot.

Enough mumbling for now… 

Peace Out