The Love in Leadership

“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1 NIV).

The Truth About Leadership

I have had the honor of knowing hundreds—probably thousands—of great leaders, in many different capacities, over the years.

When seen from the outside, leadership looks glamorous!

But what most people don’t see—and what I’ve had the privilege of walking through with many of our leaders here—are the challenging times. Personal, financial, and health challenges, dripping with loss and grief. . . there’s no shortage of heartache, even in “glamorous” leadership roles.

How Can Leaders Lead During Hardship?

But as a leader, how do we continue to lead and love during challenging times?

Let’s set the scene here for our greatest example: It’s Thursday night. Jesus will be arrested in the darkness of the night. He will undergo a false trial in the very early hours of Friday. Just after, He will be beaten within inches of death. By noon, He will be executed.

Jesus knows all this is about to come. But the disciples don’t.

Instead of showering the Lord with the affection and love He should have on His final night, the disciples—Jesus’s closest friends and students—are arguing about who is the greatest among them (see Luke 22:24)!

Here they are, totally saturated in the world’s understanding of greatness and power, while Jesus sits in front of them as the most upside-down contradiction of worldly greatness and power ever in history.

Jesus’ Leadership Example

What does Jesus do? Does He stamp His feet and demand their admiration? Does He scold them for their petty power struggle? Does He let them know how childish their behavior is?

No, He doesn’t. Instead, He loves.

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:3-5 NIV).

It is the humblest thing Jesus could do, washing their dirty feet. And how is it, as He was facing death, that He could do it?

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God…

Jesus knew that God was in control. He had confidence in His role. He had faith in the Lord, above all else. He knew there was nothing and no one who could stop what God had set in motion. And with that, the things of the earth did not shake Him.

And so, in that confidence, Jesus laid down His life for those whom God had entrusted to Him. He wrapped a towel around His waist. He washed the feet of those who were so focused on themselves. He gave and gave and loved those around Him up until His very last moment.

Our Calling as Leaders

We are all leaders as we serve others. We are all called to specific roles that can change the course of history. And, as leaders, we are called to love. Not just when it’s easy but especially when it’s hard.

So, my friends and fellow leaders, where is your confidence today? Is it in the things of the world, or is it in the Lord?

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.