A mother of two sons came requesting a favor from Jesus, she wanted greatness and first-ness for her sons. That’s where Jesus’ leadership lesson begins. Leadership is not actually about aspiration to a role. It can’t actually be granted. Sure, titles can be conferred but real leadership is what happens downstream of and sometimes simultaneous to a person’s quest for depth and breadth of spirit. Leadership is a set of behaviors available for anyone at any time to choose and use. And those tools are most effectively used by people willing to give their lives to close the gaps in the world. Leadership is not a crown, it’s a cross! In Jesus’ leadership model there are no claims of superiority and no cruelty is acceptable. Jesus landed on this leadership model by looking at what passes for greatness and first-ness in the world and going in the opposite direction. You will be different, he said to his followers. Different. Two sons, great and first and different by Jesus’ definition are The Rev. C.T. Vivian and Congressman John R. Lewis. Each one gave his life away in exchange that we would see that our nation is a neighborhood and the blessings of liberty belong to us all.
For People with Bishop Rob Wright
The new podcast expands on Bishop’s For Faith devotional, drawing inspiration from the life of Jesus to answer 21st-century questions.