“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those troubled by evil spirits were healed. Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone.”
Luke 6:12-19 NLT
Jesus is the greatest leader the world has ever seen. He drew huge crowds and changed their lives. He healed and taught and empowered people to change. He shared a vision of the Kingdom of God that would change the world, one life at a time. He gave His life to see this vision become reality, in obedience to the Father, for the salvation of the world.
He also developed leaders around Him who would carry on His vision. He developed many leaders, especially the apostles. He prayerfully selected them (v.12). He spent time investing in them, and they grew as they obeyed Him and learned to live and lead like Jesus. By the time Christ rose from the dead, they had learned and experienced enough that they were ready to lead a global movement, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit inside of them. All this development happened in just three to four years. Jesus was the greatest leader ever.
Jesus is still our Leader. He is still changing lives and healing and teaching people. His presence is joy, and the fulfillment of the longing in the human heart. Christ still develops leaders to live out and lead in the Kingdom of God.
What can you learn from Jesus about leadership? How does the example of Jesus affect who you allow to lead and influence your life?
