“Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
LEADERSHIP AND ITS TRAPPINGS
Power, position, privilege, and prestige are often associated with leadership – and they can be seductively alluring.
Just like James and John, today some of us follow Christ for prestige and positions of honour while some follow Him so that they can be placed to be in charge of others as men and women of God. Such people desire respect and authority to control people. Yet others follow Him because they are in difficulties and once things turn around for them, they abandon Him sooner than later. Others follow Him because of particular favours they are expecting from Him. To seek only these aspects is to be led astray and instead of leading one is being led – and the mission suffers.Further if one only sees leadership in the light of its associated aspects then one misses the mark completely.
SERVING OTHERS IS TRUE LEADERSHIP
In the vision of Jesus, leadership goes beyond mere titles and even position in a group structure. For Jesus leadership might have trappings, but they were not his concern, rather he speaks to the essential dynamic of leading – service. “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave”. Christ asks us today, how do we utilize the power and authority vested on us in the various capacities we function as leaders both in the Church and outside the Church? The lesson He gives us today is that no matter the post we occupy in the Church and outside the Church, the best and the greatest way of exercising our authority is not to lord it over people but in service for the good and wellbeing of the people. This is because God is the author of all power and authority who sets the tone for its right usage. And as He used His power and authority to uplift us by accepting to die for us while we were yet sinners, we too must not abuse power and authority but use it for service.
THE CHALICE
Further, while Jesus sees that leading entails witness and is observed to entail ‘seats’ of office – he is more concerned to stress that a leader must also be able a prepared to endure betrayal, restriction of liberty and even death. He speaks openly of his ‘chalice’ as symbolic of these realities. This is how true leaders use authority since it is a privilege given us by God.
CHRIST IS OUR LEADER
The true leader is the one who like Christ is the servant of all. How beautiful the world would be if our leaders and politicians use their authority in this manner. It begins with you and me in the manner we use our authority and power at home, work, school, Church, e.t.c. Ask yourself, how do you use the authority God has given you?
We have the finest of leaders to follow – let us do so. “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Osho