Sunday 16th March 2025

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Mark 10:45 (NIVUK)

The leader we need

I was browsing the bookshelves at the station while waiting for a train, when a book with this intriguing title caught my eye: Leaders Eat Last.  Apparently, in the US Marines the officers always eat last, once the lower ranks have eaten.  It’s a book on what can be learned about effective leadership from the way the marines do it.  Here’s the back cover blurb:

“Leaders are the ones who run head first into the unknown.
They rush towards the danger.
They put their own interests aside to protect us or pull us into the future.
Leaders would sooner sacrifice what is theirs to save what is ours.
And they would never sacrifice what is ours to save what is theirs.

This is what it means to be a leader.
It means they choose to go first into danger, head first toward the unknown.
And when we feel sure they will keep us safe, we will march behind them and work tirelessly to see their visions come to life, and proudly call ourselves their followers.”

No sooner did I read those words than I thought, “I know a leader like that!  His name is Jesus.”

I don’t know whether the author Simon Sinek is a Christian, but isn’t it striking how his ideas of leadership should be so close to those of Christ’s?  Apparently, servant leadership works.  I suppose that shouldn’t surprise us.  Jesus is, after all, the greatest leader the world has ever seen.  With apologies to Mr Sinek, perhaps I can adapt his words slightly?:

Jesus is the one who ran head first into what is unknown (and even terrifying) to us.
He rushed towards the danger of death and Satan.
He put his own interests aside to protect us and pull us into the life of the future.
He sacrificed what is his (his life) to save what is ours (our lives).
And he would never sacrifice what is ours to save what is his.

He is what it looks like to be a leader.
He choose to go first into danger, head first toward the unknown.
And now we feel sure he will keep us safe, we will march behind him and work tirelessly to see his vision come to life, and proudly call ourselves his followers: Christ-ians.

Prayer
Father, thank you for sending your Son to serve me, and to give his life for me, that I may live.  Help me to serve him and follow him faithfully, confidently, tirelessly and proudly.  Amen.

Yours warmly, in Christ,

Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)