Among Us - Part 2

"And He said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.' But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.

For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves."
(Luke 22: 25-27)


This may be one of the greatest passages on leadership ever written. So, let's put this in context.

There seems to have been an on-going debate among the disciples about their rank and position in the coming kingdom of God. This issue was particularly acute for James and John. At one point, even their mother came making a request that they be granted a special position in the coming kingdom.

(See Matthew 20:20-28. This is what I have come to call the "mother of a son syndrome." I became aware of this coaching little league baseball. The mothers were much more difficult to deal with than the dads. At the time, I was not aware that such behavior had a biblical basis!)

In response to their wish, Jesus turns the whole idea of leadership upside down. Rather than advocating headship based on formal authority that is "lorded over" the followers, he advocates a leadership that is based on service.

But service is not done at a distance. Note that He says "I am among you as the one who serves."

Not separate, not isolated, not protected by a hierarchy and multiple levels of filters and screens.

"I am among you."

I have had some pretty direct conversations with high ranking officials in organizations who liked to advertise their "open door" policy. While that might sound good, it is a reactive and passive approach to leading. In each of these situations there were multiple obstacles that actually deterred access to these people. In contrast I advocated - rather strongly - that they needed to get out of their office, get beyond the filters of their organizational hierarchy, and get out among the people of their organization.

The Lord Himself took the initiative to "get out of the office" and dwell among us.

I think that's a pretty good role model.