What can I learn from the leadership of Jesus?

John 8:31-32“You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders help to clarify the true reality their people are facing. They help those they lead develop a perspective and worldview that enables them to interpret life based on God’s truth. The truth, even when it is difficult to hear and do, sets people free from ignorance and deception.

John 5:19Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

John 15:5“I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders submit themselves to the ultimate leader, God. They know that they themselves are dependent on God and on others.

Mark 3:14He [Jesus] appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach.

Mark 6:7He [Jesus] called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two.

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders develop teams that create community. Wise and effective leaders share responsibilities and work through tough issues, gaining strength from mutual encouragement and accountability. They know that the differing gifts, attitudes, and experiences of team members complement each other, providing balance and support in practical ways.

Matthew 7:24-29“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders teach with insight and practical wisdom. They take the time to understand truth and communicate it in ways others can hear and respond to it.

Matthew 4:1-4Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Luke 9:58Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

John 8:46“Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders practice what they preach. They resist temptation and lead lives that are above reproach. Their lifestyles are consistent with the standards they expect of others.

Matthew 10:1Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

Mark 4:33Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.

John 15:26“I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.”

John 16:13“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders equip and release those they lead. They provide them with the wisdom and experience necessary, then let go and allow them to take responsibility for the work.

Luke 10:17-20When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!” “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders keep their priorities clear. The disciples were excited to see the power of God at work through them, but Jesus reminded them that God’s love for them was most important.

Mark 10:45“Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 1:31-33“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Philippians 1:21For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

We learn from Jesus (and Paul) that wise and effective leaders have a clear sense of mission and dedicate themselves to fulfilling that mission.

Matthew 28:19-20“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders cast a clear and specific vision for the people they lead.

John 8:44“You are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders expose lies and falsehood so that others can think clearly and respond wisely to all life’s challenges.

Matthew 23:27-28“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders confront tough situations and people who are harming others.

Luke 9:23-25He [Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders expect the most from those they lead and push them to their limits. They acknowledge challenges while pointing to the rewards ahead.

John 13:1-5Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. . . . Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders serve those they lead in practical, sacrificial, and humbling ways.

John 10:11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”

John 19:18-30There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” . . . Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders pay the price of love in leadership. No one will ever compare with Jesus’ sacrifice in a literal sense. But all good leaders suffer and sacrifice to serve those they lead.

Luke 22:28-30“You have stayed with me in my time of trial. And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders express their love and gratitude to those they lead.

Luke 7:44-46He [Jesus] turned to the woman and said to Simon [a Pharisee], “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders graciously accept expressions of genuine love and gratitude.

Hebrews 4:15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders know what fighting in the trenches is like. They aren’t too detached and distant to understand the struggles of their followers.

Matthew 26:37-40He [Jesus] took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” . . . Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?”

We learn from Jesus that wise and effective leaders are vulnerable. Jesus revealed his anguish and expressed his need for the disciples’ support as he prayed in Gethsemane, just before his arrest and crucifixion.