DIVINE AUTHENTICITY!

Jesus is the prototypical leader, authenticity personified, the quintessential leader role model. He instructs his disciples accordingly (that’s you and me).

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how” (Luke 9:23 Msg).

The essence of this blog will be found in the “let me lead… I'll show you how” part. We are going to Biblically dissect the leadership of Jesus, let him show us how he did it, and then apply same by letting him continue to set the leadership pace within a 21st Century discipleship context.

The premise being that justice, mercy and compassion form the bedrock of his leadership style, giving it a power and authenticity heretofore unknown unto man. From that time on, compassionless leadership, no matter how great the skill set, takes away the authenticity, moving it into a lower realm: Manager, Overseer, Authority Figure, Administrator, CEO, Ruler, Boss, Honcho, Numero Uno, CO, DC, TC, Pope, General—but not “leader.” In other words, “If I lead without love, I am nothing.”

So let's start at the beginning.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

Three words jump out at me: “glory, grace, truth.” For this post, let's focus on his “glory,” as this divine nature is the first essential of authentic leadership. Matthew Henry describes it this way: “Christ is homousios—of the same nature” (as God). It speaks of divine authenticity.

Henry goes on to say, “Who were the witnesses of this glory: we, his disciples and followers, that conversed most freely and familiarly with him; we among whom he dwelt. We saw it.” As his followers, “We are in a sense homoiousioi—of a like nature (2 Pet. 1:4), and have the image of his perfections.” In other words, we are like him.

Moving forward, here's the question to personally and prayerfully ponder: "Having assumed the mantle of leadership, like him, does His GLORY (divine authenticity) shine through in MY leadership style?"

JN