Our society seems to be more fascinated by prominent leaders and celebrities than ever before. Everywhere we turn, famous people are being featured and followed in just about every facet of our culture. Countless actors, athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, politicians, and religious leaders have amassed enormous fan bases that are so intensely enamored that their admiration level often borders on worship.
Nevertheless, the longer we live, the more we realize that all famous people have one thing in common: they are flawed. All we have to do is begin zooming in a little closer, and a celebrity or leader’s sins, failures, and imperfections are soon exposed.
Let’s use the term leader as a stand-in for well-known people we look up to for whatever reason: people who are famous, respected, or simply fascinating to the public. We’re mainly talking about those we admire and emulate as models or touchstones of character and wisdom. While it could be argued that celebrities aren’t necessarily leaders, by virtue of the “celebrity” status that we attribute to them, they have followers and are, by definition, leaders.
There is only one perfect Leader worthy of our worship—the Leader of all leaders and the Servant of all servants—the Servant Leader who changed leadership forever.
Ironically, this Servant Leader is the One who graciously bestows talents upon every mortal man, including those who momentarily step in and out of the world spotlight throughout time—the very Creator of all temporary celebrities and leaders, past and present.
Mercifully, this is the Servant Leader whose sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection are not simply the basis for the entire world’s calendar but the hope and anchor of the soul for mankind’s salvation in time and eternity (Hebrews 6:19).
Paradoxically, this is the fully human Servant Leader who, though He was also fully God, humbled Himself (Philippians 2:6–8), deliberately set aside His divine privileges, and became the “Suffering Servant” (Isaiah 53).
Prophetically, this Servant Leader was born of a virgin in a feeding trough among livestock in the tiny town of Bethlehem. This incarnate deity (the “God-man”) grew in wisdom and stature and lived His entire life in sinless, obedient perfection before His heavenly Father.
Miraculously, this Servant Leader turned water into wine, rebuked storms, multiplied a handful of fish and loaves into a feast for thousands, healed the sick, and raised people from the dead.
Compassionately, this Servant Leader willingly, purposefully, and lovingly died a selfless death for man’s sins and actually became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) so that God the Father could look satisfactorily upon repentant sinners as though they lived this Celebrity’s perfect life!
Powerfully, this Servant Leader conquered sin and death, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father, continuously interceding for His followers.
Thankfully, this Servant Leader didn’t leave His followers alone when He ascended into heaven. He sent another Helper (John 14:16), the Holy Spirit, to indwell them forever—to teach, guide, convict, and point them back to this Celebrity.
Amazingly, this Servant Leader is preparing a heavenly house with many rooms for His saints to dwell in for eternity, rent free! Our housewarming gift is a divinely-catered wedding feast, the marriage supper of the Lamb of God (Revelation 19:9) where the Bridegroom will enjoy a glorious celebration with His bride.
Victoriously, this Servant Leader, who was the Suffering Servant in His first coming, will be the Conquering King in His second. Heaven will open up and the King of kings and Lord of lords will return in full power and blazing glory to strike down unrepentant nations (Revelation 19:15–16).
This Servant Leader is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God and the Son of Man, the eternal Second Person of the Triune Godhead and Creator of the universe. He is the “Last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45), who though tempted in every way, never sinned even once and therefore became the only acceptable, substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. It is His precious blood that cleanses us from all iniquities and justifies us before a holy, righteous God.
Jesus Christ is the express image of the invisible God (Hebrews 1:3) and our great and sympathetic High Priest who remarkably calls His followers “friends.” He is the great “I AM” and the One who was named Immanuel (“God with us”) when He came to this earth. He was introduced by John the Baptist as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” and by the apostle Paul as “our great God and Savior.” He was before all things, and by Him all things were created that are in heaven and on earth.
Jesus is the only Servant Leader who truly deserves our reverence and worship. And God’s Word clearly proclaims that regardless of how men respond over time; a day is coming when every knee will bow before Jesus and confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10–11).
“Wherever we turn in the church of God, there is Jesus. He is the beginning, middle and end of everything to us . . . There is nothing good, nothing holy, nothing beautiful, nothing joyous which He is not to His servants.” – Frederick Faber
Unlike fleeting worldly celebrities with feet of clay, the closer we draw to Jesus, the more we become captivated by His immeasurable love, absolute perfection, matchless beauty, and glorious majesty. Studying Jesus compels us to study Him all the more! Our focus on this Servant Leader becomes the fuel to propel us through a supernatural journey that manifests in transformed lives immersed in Him.
The temporal, shallow praise of worldly celebrities will only lead to disillusionment. Mortal men can never bring us deep and lasting satisfaction. But Jesus Christ, the one true, awe-inspiring Servant Leader, offers indescribable riches that can only be found in Him. He not only welcomes us to a lifetime of satisfying study; He beckons us to abide in Him and drink deeply from the Fountain of living water forever.
The deeper we go in our study of the Servant Leader who was our Suffering Servant, the more compelled we will be to follow His perfect example of humble servant leadership. Even though our glorious Servant Leader was equal with God, He made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of a bondservant. Appearing as man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death of the cross (Philippians 2:6–8). How can we not be drawn to imitate His powerful model of leadership?
Disclaimer to reader: The above narrative is grossly incomplete and an inadequate description of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While it barely begins to scratch the surface of Christ’s many deep and wonderful attributes, hopefully it will serve as an impetus to encourage you into a deeper study of the Word and a hunger to make Jesus your “all in all.”