The Leadership Style of Jesus Christ
“Perhaps the true mark of a leader is that she or he is willing to stand alone.”
Laurie Beth Jones
The Gospel of Mark begins by telling the reader about nine characteristics of Jesus as a leader. When you read the first chapter of Mark, there are some distinctive traits of Christ that every team leader can learn! The biblical truths of his teachings and the pattern of his leadership style are valuable to any leader.
According to Dale Roach here are nine characteristics of Jesus as a leader to consider:
1. Jesus was not self-promoting. (Mark 1:11) As Jesus began his ministry, he made it clear that there was a higher power at work.
2. Jesus was obedient to the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:12-13) After Jesus’ baptism, the Gospel writer Mark says that “at once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” Many things in life can pull us away from following the Lord. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus’ obedience to His Father.
3. Jesus cast a vision with clarity, simplicity, and directness. (Mark 1:15) Not long after Jesus began his ministry, John was arrested. When this happened, “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) One of the most active components of Jesus’ ministry was his ability to be simple, clear, and direct.
4. Jesus was a strategic team builder. (Mark 1:17) When Jesus called the first four disciples, who were fishermen, to follow him, he said, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” When Jesus began the process of calling his disciples to follow him, he started with men who had something in common. The act of Christ in recruiting the first disciples is a lesson in how important it is for any leader to begin with people who share common traits and values.
5. Jesus was a relationship builder. (Mark 1:19) As noted above, Jesus began recruiting his disciples by finding those who shared some common ground. This strong foundation led to calling those of differing character. Matthew worked for Rome in the collection of taxes, while Simon the Zealot was an ardent Jewish nationalist. The bringing together of these two men showed the power of Jesus to merge diverse people. Christ sets an excellent example of how a strong leader can bring together different people.
6. Jesus expressed control and authority as a leader when needed. (Mark 1:23-25) “Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” When the demon made this statement, Jesus said sternly, “Be quiet and come out of him!” Never doubt that the characteristics of Jesus showed authority and expressed firm control when needed.
7. Jesus engaged in crisis head-on. (Mark 1:30-31) Often a crisis will cripple many people. However, Jesus often took a crisis head-on. The Bible story says, “Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.” There are times when a strong leader will have to take on what others fear. Christ is the perfect example of such behavior.
8. Jesus practiced daily prayer. (Mark 1:35) Another strong characteristic of Jesus was that he prayed every day. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) Prayer is a powerful and helpful tool for anyone who desires to be a healthy leader.
9. Jesus was all about empowering others. (Mark 1:40-45) Jesus’ entire ministry focused on the empowerment of others. A perfect example of this was in his healing of a man with leprosy. “And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.”
12 Leadership Principles of Jesus by Ron Edmondson
1. Jesus was willing to invest in people others would have dismissed. Consider the disciples. They were not the “religious” elite, yet Jesus used them to start His church.
2. Jesus released responsibility and ownership in a ministry. Consider how Jesus sent the disciples out on their own. No micro-management it appears.
3. Jesus had a leadership succession plan. Jesus consistently reminded the disciples He wouldn’t always be with them. Of course, He was still the “leader”, but He left others to take the ministry forward.
4. Jesus practiced servant leadership better than anyone. The King of kings was willing to wash the feet of His followers.
5. Jesus was laser focused on His vision. Regardless of the persecutions or distractions, Jesus kept on the mission God had called Him to complete.
6. Jesus handled distractions with grace. When the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years touched His garment, Jesus stopped to heal her, even though headed to a definite purpose.
7. Jesus was into self-development. Jesus constantly slipped away to spend time with God.
8. Jesus was into leadership development and replacement. He very purposefully prepared the disciples to take over the ministry. He pushed people beyond what they felt they were capable of doing.
9. Jesus held followers to high expectations. Jesus was not afraid to make huge requests of people. “Follow Me” meant the disciples had to drop their agenda to do so. He told the disciples they must be willing to lose everything to follow Him.
10. Jesus cared more about people than about rules and regulations. He was willing to jeopardize Himself personally by breaking the “rules” to help someone in need.
11. Jesus celebrated success in ministry. He rewarded people generously who were faithful to Him and His cause.
12. Jesus finished well.
Dr. Thorsten Grahn described Jesus as the Model Servant Leader and using John 13:1-17, he identifies several points that reveal Christ’s leadership style:
• Jesus’ basic motivation was love for his followers.
• Jesus was fully aware of his position as leader.
• Before the disciples experienced him as their servant, they had already experienced him many times before as Master, and as a strong and extremely powerful leader.
• Jesus voluntarily becomes a servant to his followers.
• Jesus wants to set an example for his followers to follow.
Additional Reading
The Servant-Leadership Style of Jesus by Dale Roach
Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership by Laurie Beth Jones
Lead Like Jesus Revisited: Lessons From the Greatest Leadership Role Model of All Time by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges
Points of Reflection
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”
Philippians 2:3 (NLT)
“But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.”
Matthew 20:26 (NLT)