Living in the Image of God M07S09
This bible study discusses the character of leadership based on Christ message to Pharisees and an interaction with his disciples when he washed their feet at the Last Supper. In the message to Pharisees, Jesus describes his spiritual role as the only source of salvation among people. Additionally, the message uses language that describes leader-follower relationships, which we rely upon to discern understanding regarding the character of leadership in human interactions and relationships. In the other event, Jesus provides a demonstration of leadership by washing his disciples’ feet. The feet washing conveys a message to do what you can to provide for a need you recognize, irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy.
The bible study begins with a Christ message to the Pharisees (John 10:1–21) regarding his role as the only source of salvation among people [John 10:9–10]: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Additionally, the message uses language that describes leader-follower relationships, which we examine to discern understanding regarding the character of leadership in human interactions and relationships.
Continuing, we discuss a Christ demonstration of leadership by washing his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper (John 13:1–17). Feet washing was a common practice among the Jews at that time. People’s feet were usually dirty because of walking on unpaved dusty roads either barefooted or on open sandals. Each household would assign servants (generally of low status among the people) to wash the feet of guests as they arrived. Therefore, by taking up towel to wash his disciples’ feet, Jesus provided a service that would not be assigned to a leader in that society. His providing the service conveys a lesson for every one: to do what you can to provide for a need you recognize, irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy. That is, an important character of leadership is to provide service to alleviate a need you recognize, irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy.
Therefore, the study focusses on Christ teaching in two events that provide information regarding the character of leadership. The first event provides an understanding of leadership based on language in a Christ description of his spiritual role among people. The other event discusses Christ demonstration of human leadership by washing his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper.
Based on the events: we learn that a leader relates to the people directly; is available to them; understands their views, aspirations, and concerns; and is able to present the understanding to the authorities or other organizations important to the people. Thus, the leader is able to represent the people as a channel for advancing their interest among those capable of influencing the effects of the people’s interest on public policies important to them. Additionally, a leader provides leadership without fear of making sacrifice. The leader represents the people boldly, focused on goals, and determined to accomplish the people’s objectives in choosing him or her as leader.
Christ Message to the Pharisees
This section examines Christ message to the Pharisees (bold text) to describe the understanding we discern regarding the character of leadership in human interactions and relationships.
John 10:1: Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. A leader has to relate to the people directly. Let the people see you directly involved in their affairs, enough to understand your views regarding their affairs and how your views relate to the views of other members of the community.
John 10:2-3: The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. A person that relates directly to the people can be associated with leadership. The people accept the leader as one of them. A leader trains himself or herself to communicate effectively with the people. The leader listens to the people and they listen to him or her. The leader gets to know people individually to address them by their names.
John 10:4: When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. A leader recognizes opportunities to provide leadership and uses the opportunities to lead such that the people recognize and follow his or her leadership. A leader is ready and eager to lead. People follow the leader because he or she provides leadership: i.e., recognizes their needs and defines direction towards providing for the needs. In contrast, people will not follow someone that does not provide leadership.
John 10:9: I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The people recognize benefits in following the leader. A leader understands the views, aspirations, and concerns of the people and is able to present the understanding to the authorities or other organizations important to the people. Thus, the leader is able to represent the people as a channel for advancing their interest among those capable of influencing how their interest is considered in developing public policies important to the people.
John 10:11: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A leader leads without fear of making sacrifice. The leader represents the people boldly, focused on goals, and determined to accomplish the people’s objectives in choosing him or her as leader.
Jesus Washes Disciples’ Feet
As we discuss in a previous study (Understanding Compassion, M02S01), when God alerts you to a need: he expects you to recognize the need, care about the needy (the sufferer from the need), commit to doing what you can, and persevere in seeking to alleviate the need; irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy. By washing his disciples’ feet, Christ teaches a lesson of providing service to alleviate a need that you recognize without minding the nature or human classification of the need or needy.
The interactions occurred during a dinner with his disciples. Jesus got up and dutifully washed the feet of every one of the disciples [John 13:4–5]: “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.” Jesus washed the feet of every disciple, including Judas (son of Simon Iscariot) who he knew was about to betray him [John 13:10–11]: “Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.”
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place (John 13:12) and explained that he expects each of them (every one of us) to do the same for others [John 13:14–15]: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” The example calls attention to an act of leadership: when a leader recognizes a need, the leader will do what he or she can to address the need, irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy. He told his disciples (all of us): “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” [John 13:17].
Summary of What We Learned
This bible study discusses the character of leadership based on Christ message to Pharisees and an interaction with his disciples when he washed their feet at the Last Supper.
In the message to Pharisees, Jesus describes his spiritual role as the only source of salvation among people. Additionally, the address uses language that describes leader-follower relationships, which we rely upon to discern understanding regarding the character of leadership in human interactions and relationships.
In the other event, Jesus provides a demonstration of leadership by washing his disciples’ feet. The feet washing conveys a message to do what you can to provide for a need you recognize, irrespective of the nature or human classification of the need or needy.