As we develop into leaders, one of the things we need to know is what it means to be a servant leader. Today such examples are greatly lacking. Some Christian leaders follow the example of the world. Christ says in Mark 10:42-43, "But Jesus called them to himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant" (Nelson).
Other Christian leaders claim to be servant leaders because they obey Christ and they expect others to obey them. They use as their model the centurion whose servant Jesus healed in Luke 7:1-10. Verses 7-9 say, "Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. "For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, "Go," and he goes; and to another, "Come," and he comes; and to my servant, "Do this," and he does it." When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel" (Nelson). This is a military leader telling how he exercises military leadership who recognizes the authority that Christ has over sickness. It is not an example of servant leadership. It is a respect of the authority of Christ over all things.
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Mark 10:42-45 gives the meaning of what Jesus means by servant leadership. Those verses say, "But Jesus called them to himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
