Having loved his own who were in the world Jesus now showed them the full extent of his love. – John 13:1

I have to tell you it was really good to be back with our Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church family Sunday morning. Rebekah and I attended worship services each week we were gone, visiting three different congregations, but it is always special to be home.

And for me, not just home but listening to Rebekah’s voice in the pulpit. Once in a while I will share a link in this space, and this week’s message was absolutely a home-run, so here we are. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to listen.

Interestingly – and this happens a lot – her message on leadership dovetailed nicely with the thoughts I had shared in my early morning blog post.

The continuity of apostolic authority

Installing – and especially ordaining – elders is a really big deal. The “laying on of hands” during the prayer represents passing on 2,000 years of unbroken apostolic authority. Sometimes the charge of energy in the room from God’s Spirit is palpable.

For this new class of elders the focus of Rebekah’s message was servant leadership. One particular insight she shared (and you can hear more on this if you listen to her message at this link – Rebekah’s January 12 Sermon – had to do with Christ’s words at the Last Supper.

“I have set you an example,” Jesus said to his followers (John 13), “that you should do as I have done for you.”

We all know The Golden Rule – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” – and it is good so far as it goes. But here at his last meal Jesus goes beyond the simple idea of reciprocity and charges his friends to represent him as leaders, to imitate his actions, and to Do Jesus Things.

It does not matter what ministry area we are focusing on, Rebekah explained (pointing out that the elders are involved with everything from mission and service to education to worship to finance to fellowship and more), what matters is that Jesus is at the heart of it and that in everything we Do Jesus Things.

This is leadership. The power of real leadership comes through humility, having the heart of a servant, and being the presence of Jesus in all that we are involved in.

I don’t know that this could be any more clear in the Gospels. I don’t know that this Christ-centered principle could be any more misrepresented and distorted in today’s halls of power.

But of course, as the Bible makes a point of noting in verse 11, “Jesus knew who was going to betray him.” And he still does, friends, he still does.

Having loved his own who were in the world Jesus now showed them the full extent of his love…