Mt. 25:25 "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 YET IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Just prior to this statement, a mother had asked that her two sons be given seats on the right and the left of Jesus' own throne. They felt they were up to the task to drink the cup He was going to drink. This whole conversation infuriated the other disciples, probably because they wanted thrones next this his also! But, Jesus, as usual, redirects.
He tells us how power/authority works in the world. Power has a tendency to force itself on others. "Because I said so" is the last bastion of "positional authority." Jesus says, that the way Kingdom leadership is captured in the phrase "because I DO so." The Bible says of Jesus that He emptied Himself of all His well-deserved glory and took upon Himself the form of a servant. Who can forget the picture of Jesus kneeling before the disciples' feet to wash them?
By extravagant service and the loving heart it flows from is influence, leadership, given. They follow because you have served them well. They listen because you have listened well. Ultimately, they will die well, because you showed them how to die well...spiritually and then physically.
"Because I DO so" - "Follow me as I follow Christ"
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