A Serving Leadership Insight from the Life of Jesus Christ (Mark 10:32-34)

“They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ‘We are going up to Jerusalem,’ he said, ‘and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.’” (Mark 10:32-34)

In Mark 10:32–34 Jesus resolutely led his disciples toward Jerusalem, reminding them that he would be condemned to death there. The text notes that the disciples were astonished and those following were afraid. His words regarding resurrection seemed lost on the disciples considering their current reality. No doubt they wondered what possessed Jesus to embrace such a fate? Why was he so determined to give himself over to his greatest detractors? Overwhelmed with the pain of the present, they failed to see the future goal. Jesus was focused and nothing would lure him off course. He had come to the earth to serve, and the greatest act of service for all humanity was death on a cross. The world’s primary need was not a teacher, healer, or political deliverer. What the world needed was a Savior. Serving leaders know their calling. Their purpose is to serve the best interests of those they lead regardless of the cost.

KEY QUESTIONS: What is my primary calling in life? What are the costs associated to staying the course? When have I been tempted to change direction? Who has attempted to persuade me to take a different pathway in life? When have I had to adjust my understanding of my call due to lack of clarity? How can I discern temptation from wisdom?