How to Be a Leader

Let me suggest that all who follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should not settle for just being saved or included among the saints. We should not be content to just get by in our Christian walk.  I’d like to suggest that every single one of us should seek to be leaders for Jesus Christ.

I’m not suggesting that we all become teachers or pastors or missionaries or church officers.  What I’m suggesting is that we become the type of people that we can say to others, just like Paul did, Follow me, even as I follow Christ.  When someone wants to know what a Christian ought to look like, we ought to be able to say, if you follow me as I follow Christ, you will see what a Christian ought to look like.  I’m not suggesting perfection; just a desire to be more like Jesus.  In today’s message, we will see what true leadership requires.  

At this point in the gospel of John, Jesus’ ministry to the nation of Israel was finished.  He had given ample opportunity for the Jewish people to believe in Him for salvation.  However, they had chosen to reject Him.

Dr. Lloyd Perry, one of my graduate professors, remarked that “one cannot spend time wallowing in the mud and filth of naysayers.”  Then a little later, Dr. Perry encouraged us to “move with the movers; go with the goers.”   In other words, put energy and focus into the lives of those wishing to live for Jesus and make an impact on others for the Kingdom of God.

This is where we find ourselves as we enter into John 13.  Jesus is now expending His efforts upon those closest to Him.  Knowing that He will be leaving this earth soon, He begins to show those closest to Him what it means to be a leader for God and a follower of God.  He does this, not by lecturing and filling in blanks on a piece of paper, but by means of teaching by example.  And He starts with the foundation of needing a humble spirit.  

C.S. Lewis stated: Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.

You see, it doesn’t matter how qualified one is academically; it doesn’t matter how talented or gifted a person may be; unless a person is in humble subjection to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, they cannot be a true leader. This sets the theme for today.

True leadership can only happen with a humble spirit.  

Humility is Seen in Surrender. - 13:1-2

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,

We recall that the Passover was a time of remembering with thankfulness the fact that God had rescued His chosen people out of the bondage and slavery of Egypt.  This meal was an annual memorial of God’s provision of giving freedom to His people.

It is not a coincidence that these events which were about to take place revolved around this particular Feast.  The whole world was in bondage and slavery to sin, with only death awaiting them; eternal death.  The only way for humanity to be set free from this was to have a perfect sacrifice given on our behalf.  Jesus was fully aware of all of this, as He knew the Father’s plan since before time began.  This would be the last time this Passover Feast, with all of the sacrifices, was needed.  For the Lamb of God had come to take away the sin of the world.  Thus, this meal was a very powerful transitional one, as Jesus will explain how the bread and fruit of the vine will represent what He is about to do for the world.

Now there has been concern among some that there is an apparent contradiction in John and the other Gospels, and even within itself.  Rather than hide from it and ignore it, let’s go ahead and look at it briefly.  It has to do with the time of the meal.  Here we see Jesus and the disciples preparing for the meal.  However, in John 18.28, it appears that Jesus is being led into the Praetorium early Friday morning, before the meal.  Then John 19.24 states that the trial took place on the day of preparation for the Passover.  The question then arises as to how Jesus and the disciples apparently ate the meal on Thursday evening, while the Jewish religious leaders did not eat it until Friday evening.  

Various cultures and regions have differing traditions.  Our family eats lunch at noon, except on Sunday.  Then our noon meal is called dinner.  The rest of the week, what is often called dinner, which we refer to as supper, takes place in the evening. 

We celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday of November.  Our dear Canadian friends celebrate Thanksgiving on the 2nd Monday of October.  We celebrate Christmas usually on December 25th.  However, some dear Ukrainian friends celebrate Christmas beginning January 6-7, often going until January 19.  

The Jews actually had two different ways of distinguishing days, depending upon what area one lived.  One was to count a day as sunrise-sunrise.  The other way was to count the day as sunset-sunset.  Being Galileans, Jesus and the Twelve would have viewed Passover day as running from sunrise on Thursday to sunrise on Friday. They would have eaten their Passover meal on Thursday evening. The Jewish leaders (the Sadducees), however, would have viewed it as beginning at sunset on Thursday and ending at sunset on Friday. They would have eaten their Passover meal on Friday evening.

Back to this verse, Jesus again shows that He is fully aware and in control of the situation, as He is knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father.  He then describes His complete and perfect love for His disciples and all who would believe in Him.  Even though He is about to become sin for all humanity and experience the most excruciating physical death; even though He is about to experience eternal separation from His Father for a brief time; His focus is never on Himself, but upon those entrusted to Him.  It’s not that Jesus merely loved them to the end in time, but rather perfectly and completely.

Yet, even here, there is still one who would rebel and reject what Jesus Christ was offering.

Here, we see a man who has not a shred of humility.  Even though he was in a leadership position as the treasurer and one of the twelve, he was out for himself and what he wanted.  Yes, Satan put the idea of betraying Jesus into Judas; yet Judas could have rejected that and chosen to follow Christ.  However, he did not.  The Bible tells us elsewhere that God despises a proud heart, but will lift up the humble. 

Remember that the humility of Christ is seen with incredible power when he washed the feet of Judas.  We spend a lot of time discussing Peter’s interaction with Jesus during this time.  Yet, with our knowledge of what Judas did; and that the thought was already in his mind; and that Jesus was fully aware of everything going on; does it not cause you to marvel when you see the humility of our Savior in His willingness to wash the feet of the one who was to betray Him?  When you and I are able to come to the point that we’re willing to wash the feet and serve someone who is out to kill us, then we’ll understand what true humility, love and leadership should look like.

Again, remember that Judas and Satan wanted the same thing.  Their pride was running rampant in their desire to get what they wanted.  

Let’s take a bit of time and look at the action shown by the humble leadership of Jesus.

Humility is Seen in Servanthood. - 13:3-11

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.  Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.  So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.”  Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”  Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”  Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”  For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Again, John reminds us that Jesus was completely in charge.  Jesus knew that

the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God. 

Nothing was happening that was purely coincidence.  It was all very intentional.  Here, even with the fact that He is God, Jesus shows total humility and a servant spirit.

By now, they’ve walked through the dusty streets of Jerusalem and with only sandals on their feet, they were dusty and sweaty.  They’ve sat down for the meal, but something is not right.  We wonder at this juncture as to why none of the disciples volunteered to take care of this issue.  In order to enjoy the food and the fellowship, the feet should have been washed.  

Yet, when we look at the other Gospels, we gain some insight into what was going on in the minds of the disciples.  We recall at different times their concern about who would have the position of prominence next to Jesus.  There were discussions about who was the greatest.  Jesus had even admonished them earlier that the greatest among you shall be your servant.  Sadly, they were wanting to be leaders, yet hadn’t yet learned that true leadership can only happen with a humble spirit.  They hadn’t learned the need to look out for the good of others before themselves.  

The washing of the feet of one’s guests was normally done by Gentile slaves or servants.  This task was considered so menial and degrading that even Jewish slaves or servants rarely performed it.  In addition, we need to remember that Jesus is going to wash the feet of all his disciples, including Judas, whose intent was to betray Jesus.  So, when Jesus got up from the meal and began to do the task of a slave, we can only imagine the embarrassment and shame the disciples may have felt.  

Then we hear from their spokesman, Peter, who always seemed to have something that needed to be said.  He expresses shock at what Jesus is doing.  John MacArthur reminds us:  For a superior to wash the feet of an inferior was unheard of in either Jewish or Roman culture.  Jesus responds by simply explaining that Peter doesn’t really understand what Jesus is doing.

Yet, Peter cannot imagine this being done, so he responds with a double negative stating that there is no way that he can allow Jesus to wash his feet like a slave would be doing.  Then Jesus responds with a very curious answer. 

If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. 

This response is an explanation of the purpose of Jesus’ coming.  You can imagine their shock and bewilderment at what Jesus was doing, as that went against everything they thought Jesus to be.  They saw Him as the One Who would set up His Kingdom then.  However, Jesus did not come to set up an earthly Kingdom.  He came to give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the people.  Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus humbled himself, even to death on a cross.  

But there’s an additional, and perhaps more easily understood explanation for this answer.  In the Bible, washing is often used as a metaphor for spiritual cleansing.  In this context, only those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ can experience spiritual cleansing.  And if one doesn’t allow Jesus to do that and thinks it can be done some other way, then they will never be a part of God’s Kingdom.  Now, we know that Peter already was a true follower of Jesus Christ; he was already a child of the King.  We know that from what Jesus stated that they were clean except for one.  However, if we allow the dirt of this world to remain on us, the fellowship we ought to have with Christ is hindered.  We must allow for him to cleanse us daily.  As Warren Wiersbe explains:  Peter was in union with Christ as one of “His own” through faith, but sin can break our communion with the Lord. There is a difference between sonship and fellowship. Only as we allow Christ to cleanse us can we remain in fellowship with Him and enjoy His presence and power.

Well, leave it to Peter to go to extremes.  Whatever it was that Jesus was offering, Peter wanted it all.  Whether it be a physical bath or a spiritual cleansing, Peter wanted everything.  In Jesus’ response, we have a great theology lesson about the assurance of salvation for a believer in Jesus Christ.  We could literally read verse 10 like this:  He that has been once-and-for-all washed [perfect tense verb] all over does not need to do anything more than cleanse his feet.  Spiritually speaking, if I have been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, I don’t need to be completely rewashed when I’ve been tainted by sin on this earth.  I must simply confess my sins and allow Him to forgive me and purify me from all unrighteousness. 

The Old Testament priests experienced a ceremonial washing or bath before they became priests. This happened only one time at the beginning of their ministry. However, every time they came into the temple, they were required to wash their hands, signifying the need to be cleansed from the daily filth of the world.  My friends, we still need daily cleansing from the affects of sin around us.  However, we are not required to continue to be saved over and over again. Once a person receives salvation through Jesus Christ, their union with him is complete. However, our communion with him can be hindered greatly if we do not continually seek forgiveness for the sins we are prone to commit while walking this sinful earth.  Though we might get frustrated with Peter’s quick mouth, we ought to want the same thing; to be as close to Christ, as possible.

Then Jesus comments on the spiritual status of the group.  All of them were clean except for one.  Evidently, all had believed and chosen to follow Jesus Christ, except for Judas.  At the time, only Jesus and Judas knew this.  I am also amazed that here is another opportunity for Judas to repent.  Even though he would not, the opportunity to change was still there.  

The last section should tie everything together for us.

Humility is Seen in Submission. - 13:12-17

So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?  You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

The foot washing event is now over.  Jesus put back on His regular clothing and went back to the table area and the meal continued.  Table and meal conversations often are the best talks ever to happen.  Many teachable opportunities and great discussions occur over a meal.  

Jesus now explains Himself further to His disciples.  He affirms their understanding of Who He is.  He is Teacher and Lord as they say He is.  Now Jesus wants them to think about that knowledge and apply what they have just experienced.  The Lord of all that there is, humbled Himself and washed their feet.  So what is the conclusion?  The disciples ought to humble themselves with each other and be a servant.  Jesus just provided an object lesson that no amount of reading and taking of notes could explain or become an integral part of their learning.

Then Jesus goes on and explains that if someone is in a position of lesser authority, they are not greater than their master.  A messenger is not greater than the one who sent the message.  If the disciples would understand this in such a way that it impacted how they lived their lives, they would be blessed.

I appreciate MacArthur’s take on this: The theological truths pictured in verses 7–11 (Jesus’ humiliation at His first coming and the once-for-all cleansing of justification versus the daily cleansing of sanctification), though of great importance, are not the main truths the Lord sought to communicate. The primary principle Jesus wanted the disciples to learn was the importance of humble, loving service.  You see, if the Master and Teacher and Lord was willing to humble himself, then it makes no sense for anyone else to be unwilling to humble themselves.

I would like to also suggest that the actual foot washing is not what Jesus is telling His followers to do. 

For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 

Jesus said “as” I did to you, not “what” I did to you.  Throughout the Bible, we are reminded that God is more concerned about what is going on inside us and not what we’re doing on the outside.  That is not to say that what we’re doing on the outside isn’t of importance; but that must be based on a heart that is right on the inside.  Otherwise, it becomes a legalistic ritual.  Then we hear the result of humble servanthood in verse 17.  The world thinks that happiness is the result of others serving us, but real joy comes when we serve others in the name of Christ. — Warren Wiersbe

Reflections

Honestly, this is not so much about being a leader in our world, as being a leader in Christ-like living; which really means being a true follower of Christ; which boils down even further to living like Christ; which when all is said and done:  True leadership can only happen with a humble spirit. 

If we want to make a real difference for the cause of Christ, we need to have a humble spirit.  Then others will be able to see Christ in us.  They will see that it is not about us, at all.  It’s all about Jesus.  

Folks, that’s the kind of leader I want to be.  That’s the kind of leader I want each of you to be.  Living your life for Jesus in total abandonment of self, in a spirit of loving humility.