The idea that Jesus is in charge of the church seems strange to some people. As humans we want some person to be in charge. It is natural to think that some one needs to run things.That’s that mindset that Jesus was dealing with when He taught his disciples about being a leader—at least in His church. In Mark 10:25-28 Jesus told His disciples: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles LORD IT OVER THEM, and their great ones EXERCISE AUTHORITY OVER THEM. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Now Scripture dies not talk much about how to be a great leader. What it does talk about is how to be a great SERVANT. Many people who want to be leaders want to have power, authority and control. And what Jesus was saying was: worldly leaders—not Godly leaders— want the power to have authority over others. and they want the power to “lord it over” others. Jesus told His disciples “That’s not who you are!” It shall not be so among you! If you want to be great, you got to be a servant. If you want to the person who God desires, then you need to learn to be a slave to others. That’s the pattern of what Christians should be like. It’s what we ALL should do if we do things the way Christ taught.It seems that throughout the Bible the emphasis is on God’s leaders being shepherds. The prophets, priests and kings (those who were responsible for the guidance and protection of Israel) were men who were seen by God as being the shepherds of HIS people. Their job was to guide and protect His flock.Now in Mark 10 Jesus is telling His disciples the same thing. They were going to be the shepherds of His flock. They were to guide and protect HIS CHURCH. And, they were going to do that — NOT by being the BOSS of the church, but by being THE SERVANTS OF the church.It seems we have lost the meaning of being a “shepherd” and now we make a “technical term” a “pastor” out of ...
