Season 4 Episode 4 Servant Leadership

[Dr. Shane]

In this episode we see Jesus giving Peter lessons on leadership. It begins with comforting Philip after the death of Ramah. During this part of the episode a conversation between Peter, James and John takes place. They ask each other why Jesus rose the daughter of Jairus back to life but did not bring Ramah back to life. Peter quotes Isaiah that God's thoughts are higher than his thoughts and God's ways higher than his ways. Peter concludes the matter by saying that they are His students, not His equals. Peter says he worships a God that walks on water.

When Gaius sends soldiers to bring Matthew to him, Peter volunteers to go along. Now we see Gaius demonstrate servant leadership. The summons ends with Gaius going to Peter's home to request Jesus to heal his son. Gaius's faith brings joy to Jesus as He is preparing to go to Jerusalem with the disciples. Of course, Jesus heals Gaius's son. When Gaius arrives home he blows out the candles lit in front of pagan gods displayed in his home. He is then met by his wife and children. All are joyful that the boy was healed. As Gaius is teaching his sons the meaning of the Hebrew word shalom, his wife notices the candles had been blown out. That was a tear-jerking moment for me. The centurion was converted.

As Jesus and the disciples are leaving for Jerusalem, James and John ask if they can sit on His right and left in the kingdom. Of course, in the Bible it was actually their mother who asked this. The question causes Jesus to become distraught and gives the group a lesson on servant leadership. The Biblical account of this is in Matthew 20:20-28. This is a lesson many in the church today still do not completely understand. I have seen its application more in the leadership of 12-step recovery groups than in Christian churches. I don't want to paint everyone with the same brush. Christian churches do have many servant leaders. Unfortunately, there maybe just as many leaders in the church that do not grasp the servant part of the job. I have seen people manipulate others and fight to get positions of power in the church that are volunteer positions. That is, the positions do not pay a salary. Some simply want the title of head deacon, elder or director of some ministry. Once they are nominated and voted into the position, they do little to nothing. That is, all they wanted was the title and not the ministerial responsibilities that came with it. Some, that are in board positions, do not even attend the board meetings.

This episode ends with Jesus feeling the weight of what He is about to endure. "For the Son of Man came not to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and made free from the punishment of sin." (Matt. 20:28). Jesus told the mother of James and John that she did not know what she was asking. The position on the left and right or Jesus are seen at Calvary. The two thieves that died with Jesus had those positions of honor.  "Jesus said to her, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to take the suffering that I am about to take? (Are you able to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?)'" (v 22). The final scene of this episode has Gaius finding Jesus, embracing Him. One is led to believe that Gaius desires to thank Jesus but ends up comforting Him.