Bulletin 277 – Leadership

In the famous passage from Mark’s Gospel chapter 5 verses 21-43 (also found in Luke 8:40-56), we see a picture of Jesus which gives a clear understanding of what leadership should look like in the church. Jesus had returned in a boat with his disciples and was immediately confronted by a great crowd of people. However, there were two people in dire need of his ministry. Firstly Jairus, the synagogue leader and secondly the woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years. The manner in which Jesus deals with each gives us a rare glimpse of his personality, thinking and mission. Here are 7 attributes of good leaders taken from this passage.

1. Good leaders have clear objectives
Jairus was not exactly an ally of Jesus. Many times, Jesus crossed swords with the religious elite and treated them sternly because of their legalism and determination to silence him and cripple his ministry. However, none of this dampened his desire to fulfil his mission (Luke 4:18-19). Jairus’ daughter was clearly close to death (v23). Jesus’ mission was to bring life and that was what he intended to do here. We also see his determination when the woman interrupts the journey to Jairus’ house (v30). Again he clearly sees an opportunity to fulfill his mission and will not be stopped from completing his task. I wonder how many times in our churches we simply go through the motions without reflecting on our real goal of offering new life to people.

2. Good leaders are not deterred by opposition
On two occasions, Jesus could have called off his work. Firstly, when he asked, ‘who touched me?’, his disciples ridiculed his question on account of the great crowd and the hopelessness of trying to find the culprit (v31). But Jesus persisted and successfully completed his mission. Also, having healed the woman, Jesus continues with Jairus only to be confronted with mourners announcing Jairus’ daughter’s death (v35). Again, this did not stop Jesus from completing his mission and he urged, in the face of seemingly impossible odds, that people demonstrate faith (v36). How easily do we withdraw from situations because of the seemingly impossible task before us?

3. Good leaders show compassion to all
Jairus, a religious leader and the woman, a social outcast because of her condition, could both have dampened Jesus’ compassion. But no, Jesus was focused and even those who we might put at the bottom of our ‘to-do’ list, aroused genuine compassion in Jesus’ heart. It was that compassion which energised and focused his ministry. This teaches us that sometimes the most unlikely people are the ones we need to devote our time to – not just those we get on well with.

4. Good leaders show due sensitivity
‘Gentle Jesus meek and mild’ go the words of a children’s hymn. Many would dismiss this as sentimental nonsense and with good reason. When he had to be, Jesus was firm. But also he showed immense sensitivity. To the mourners who brought the bad news about Jairus’ daughter, he told them firmly to shut up. In contrast we see those tender moments. After healing the woman, he spoke such gentle and affirming words, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace…’ (v34). When approaching Jairus’ house, he did not want to create too much fuss or intrude on their private grief and so he only took his 3 key disciples, Peter, James and John into the house (v37). Standing beside the little girl, he took her by the hand and spoke gently to her (v41). Having raised Jairus’ daught to full health, he did not simply depart but showed sensitivity to her physical needs and urged that she be fed (v43). Sometimes we mistakenly think that leaders need to be powerful, assertive and strict. Jesus shows here the importance of a balanced approach and the power of gentleness.

5. Good leaders value their followers and model good practise
It can be tempting for leaders to ‘go it alone’ on the grounds that if you want something doing well, do it yourself. However, Jesus insisted on taking Peter, James and John with him (v37) into the house of Jairus. In spite of their lack of faith, Jesus did all he could with his disciples. He mentored them and His intention was clearly to train them in the ministry which he was passing on to them in due course (Matthew 28:18,19). He wanted them to see how it was to be done and left them with the best possible example. As leaders, do we give sufficient attention to the need for modelling good practice? Would we like people to do things the way we do them?

6. Good leaders show patience
Yes, I know it’s a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) but it can sometimes be in short supply. But just look how Jesus, when being pressed and hurried by Jairus to heal his daughter, took time out for an outcast woman (vv 30-32). Sometimes we are so focused on the task in hand that intrusions don’t get a look in. Not so for Jesus – and that’s good to know each time we pray for help. Do you ever feel that your leaders don’t have time for you or that you are too unimportant. Do you see them as people with full diaries and important decisions to make that you don’t feel inclined to interrupt them for fear of receiving a harsh rebuke?

7. Good leaders believe in themselves and their ability to succeed
I was at a gathering of Christian leaders recently and some of them said how reluctant they are to offer healing to people who ask for it. Jesus had no such doubt - he knew his mission. He knew God was with him and his faith was unshakable. Good leaders are the same. They understand that they are in place because of God’s calling and trust his equipping to carry out their ministry.

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Of course, there is one other thing to say about good leaders. They need our support and prayer. We can be very quick to criticise leaders when things go wrong but they are only human like us and deserve our support.