It is excellent to be with you again today. We are honored to be here and consider it a privilege to look into the Word of God with you. In our area, there are many resources for leaders. Books that describe leadership and how to improve your leadership. People who offer personal coaching and teaching so that you can improve and become a better leader. What do you think is the reason for this? I believe one reason for all these options is that it is essential. Leaders matter, and they make a big difference.
Our lesson today is from Mark 3, and we will examine the example of Jesus to learn how we can become better leaders. Learning about leadership from the best leader is a great place to start.
In 2023, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit Israel. One attraction we visited was a model of Jerusalem during the time of Herod the Great in 66 AD. It was fascinating.
Jesus gave His disciples a model prayer in Matthew 6. We don’t repeat that prayer word for word, but we use the ideas in it to help us pray effectively. Models are patterns to follow.
Our study is based on Mark 3:7-19. As I studied and prayed, I saw in these verses: “A Model for Leaders.” If you’re not a leader, you can benefit from this teaching. The actions Jesus took to model leadership apply to everyone to some degree.
Follow along as I read Mark 3:7-19.
7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea
8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.
9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.
10 For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.
11 And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell before Him and cried out, saying, “You are the Son of God.”
12 But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.
13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.
14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,
15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
16 Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;
17 James, the son of Zebedee, and John, the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”;
18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite;
19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.
In this narrative, we find several ACTIONS taken by Jesus that serve as a model for leaders.
Before we begin exploring this text, don’t forget what happened in the preceding verses. Context is essential. Jesus had healed a man in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. As a result, the Pharisees and Herodians began exploring ways to put Jesus to death.
The First ACTION is,
Exercise Prudence
Our text opens with Jesus withdrawing from the synagogue and heading to a remote area along the shore of the Sea of Galilee with his disciples. Did Jesus fear the threats of His enemies? I don’t think I ever thought that before. I hope you don’t think that’s blasphemous. The writer of Hebrews wrote that “…we have one [Jesus] who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin”? Being tempted in EVERY way certainly includes fear.
Jesus knew that His time to die hadn’t yet come. So, He exercised prudence or caution. He foresaw the outcome of the opposition and prudently removed Himself to the open countryside.
Jesus didn’t run away, abandoning His ministry and purpose. But He set an example of prudence for us. Sometimes, we must take a bold stand for truth, but at other times, we can step back, like He did here. Knowing when to do this calls for wisdom.
We all face conflict in life. From Jesus, we learn how to exercise prudence. Are you facing a tense situation? Withdrawal is often a good first option; it gives time for our emotions to cool and allows us to process things in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Another ACTION is,
Evaluate the Pressure
Even as Jesus is withdrawing from the pressure of the religious leaders, He is followed by a great multitude. A crowd brings a different kind of pressure. The double use of the word great most likely indicates thousands or even tens of thousands of people. They came from. Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, east of the Jordan, and from Tyre and Sidon. It’s no wonder that Mark highlighted the size of the crowd. Some of them must have traveled for days to reach Jesus.
Jesus responds to this situation by evaluating the pressure. He knew a crowd this size could be unpredictable and dangerous. Every year, people are trampled to death or injured in crowds at large religious festivals, concerts, and sports events. So, He told His disciples to prepare a small boat for Him and to keep it ready in case He needed it. He feared the multitude would crush Him. That’s what the text says.
This crowd wasn’t hostile; they were just intensely eager to have their case attended to by Jesus. Verse 10, “For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.” The word pressed means “to throw oneself upon” something or someone. They wanted to be healed from their diseases and the afflictions of their bodies and minds.
We all face pressures in life, but some pressures are unique to leaders. Leaders have authority and power. People look to them for answers or help with problems. Wise leaders assess that pressure and take steps to ensure it doesn’t overwhelm them. Jesus modeled for us how to evaluate pressures and prepare to deal with them.
As we exercise prudence and evaluate pressure, there is another action in this model.
Another ACTION is,
Evade Popularity
Why do leaders need to evade or avoid popularity? You may recall that earlier, Jesus healed a man with leprosy and warned him not to tell anyone. In his joy, the man disobeyed His command and began to tell everyone what Jesus had done for him. Because of this, Jesus could not openly enter the towns and preach because the people thronged Him for physical healing.
In this crowd were people with physical ailments and those tormented by demonic spirits. When the evil spirits saw Jesus, they fell at His feet and cried out, “You are the Messiah!” And He warned them repeatedly not to be silent. Jesus didn’t want their testimony!
Do you think Jesus ever struggled with the temptation of pride? If He didn’t, then He wouldn’t be tempted in every way like we are. He evaded popularity.
Whenever someone is given authority and responsibility, there is always the temptation to become proud. Leaders need to understand how subtle and pervasive this temptation is and find others to hold them accountable for their actions.
In the time of Jesus, the words, “You are the Messiah,” were explosive. Jesus eventually accepted that acclaim, but not now and not from demons. If Jesus had fallen to the temptation of pride, it would have destroyed His entire ministry.
As we exercise prudence, evaluate pressure, and evade popularity, there is a final action in this model for leaders.
A Final ACTION is,
Execute Preparation
Wise leaders prepare for the future. Jesus knew His time on earth was limited, so He prepared accordingly. Every one of us has limited time here, and Jesus models for us how to prepare for the future.
Jesus withdrew from the seaside and went up into a mountain to pray. Evidently, Jesus took a select group with Him to the mountain. The original text emphasizes that “He Himself selected” this subgroup, and they went off with Him. Out of that select group, gathered from the large crowd, He chose the Twelve. There were no “volunteers” in Jesus’ inner circle.
These twelve were appointed “that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons…”
Those details are important. They were not ready to be sent forth until after they had been discipled. There was a lot that Jesus needed to train into these men and a lot He needed to train out of them. The same is true for us today. Before anyone can become an effective leader, they need to learn how to follow well.
I suppose it would be profitable to spend some time looking at the names and personalities of the Twelve. But I don’t plan to do that. The important thing is that Jesus modeled for us as leaders how to execute preparations for the future.
Let’s recap Jesus’ actions that provide a model for us to follow. First, He exercised prudence. He assessed the situation and took the necessary action. When you face conflict, do you exercise prudence in your responses?
How well do you assess pressure? What are the stress points in your life? Do you have contingency plans like Jesus did?
Do you shun popularity, knowing that it contains great temptations to become proud? Jesus warned His followers, “Beware when all people speak well of you.”
And finally, what preparations are you making for the future? Are you willing to face your mortality? Are you willing to train and equip others to carry on the work you have begun?
If we are willing to follow the actions that Jesus modeled for us, I believe we can bring Him glory now and into the future through the lives of those we disciple. Will you join me in the pursuit of that goal?
Thank you, J. Mark, thank you for this teaching, and thank you for reviewing the four areas you just shared. I am guessing someone is thinking this didn’t apply to them because they are not a leader. If you are considering this, one question. Are you sure? While you may not officially be a leader and it may not appear that you lead, I am reasonably sure that you have influence. Your life is impacting other people. So, unless you live on an island, you have influence, and this is what leadership is about. It may be small, but it is something, so whether you lead in significant ways or small ways, purpose to lead like Jesus.
If you have any questions about today’s lesson or would like to contact us, please don’t hesitate to do so. You can reach us by email or the internet. Our email address is [email protected], and our website is heraldsofhope.org. There, click on the “partner” which is at the top. There, you will see the “contact us” link, click on it, and message us directly. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you for joining us for Hope for Today. We look forward to being with you next time. I leave you with excellent leadership advice from the book of Philippians, possibly the best you’ve ever heard. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Thank You
