February 10th, 2023
by Jon Welch
by Jon Welch
Misunderstood leadership
I hope you are wrestling with leading like Jesus. I want to be a leader who loves, is humble, has great faith in God, and knows who his authority is. I struggle with all four leadership aspects, so I need Jesus to live in me and through me to be the leader He calls me to be. We're only doing 50 days; therefore, we will leave out events like the one found in Luke 7:11-17 when Jesus shows the power and authority over the dead by raising a widow's son back to life.
People often misunderstood Jesus as a leader. In today's study, Jesus pays tribute to another vastly unappreciated and misunderstood leader. He honors this leader, His dear friend, and co-laborer in the Kingdom of God.
Read: Luke 7:18-35; Matthew 11:2-19
What do we know at this point about John the Baptist?
Why did John send his disciples to Jesus?
Why was John doubting?
How is John the Baptist honored by Jesus?
What is Jesus modeling for us about leadership?
John the Baptist is sitting in prison, and he has doubts about whether Jesus is the Expected one. How can this be a leader doubting? Yes, John, sitting on a cold prison floor in Herod's cell, doubts the facts he previously proclaimed: that Jesus is the One (John 1:26,27,29). John, who had been telling people for over three years that Jesus is the Messiah and the Lamb of God, is doubting. So he sends some of his loyal disciples to ask Jesus a very heart-wrenching question, "are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"' (Luke 7:19). Leaders sometimes doubt even the things they have clung to for a long time. Why was John doubting?
I do not have the space to go into a lengthy discussion, only to point out a few facts to you. First, in Luke, we read that John's disciples were reporting to John all that Jesus was saying and doing.
In Mathew, we read that when John heard what Jesus was saying, He began to question. Therefore, there must have been something Jesus said that caused John to doubt the Master. Notice that when John's disciples arrive, Jesus is in the middle of teaching the crowd; they interrupt Him to tell Him what John sent them. Everyone present hears about John's doubts. Can you imagine the looks on the faces of the newly chosen leaders and Jesus' disciples? Remember that many of these disciples were former disciples of John (John 1:35-37). It was John who had pointed them to Jesus. How could it be that John is now going through this?
Jesus responds to John's doubts with a passage from scripture with a hidden meaning. It was apparent code between Jesus and John, and somehow Jesus knew that when John heard these words, he would say, "Yes–Jesus is the Messiah!". So Jesus sends the messengers, not with a yes or a no answer but with an Old Testament scripture from Isaiah 61:1-2 and 35:5, the same section Jesus read back in Nazareth when his own town's people rejected him.
Jesus then turns to the silent crowd and pays John an incredible tribute. Jesus says, "'Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist…'" (Matthew 11:11). If nothing else, this statement by Jesus should make you want to go back and find out who this guy was. If you do, you will find a leader with deep love, humility, faith, and a clear understanding of authority, just the type of leader the Father desires to use. Yet, they said to John, "'He has a demon'" (Matt. 11:18). The people of John's time, and our time, have always misunderstood John. Most people still have the image of John as a wild man running around in the wilderness dressed unfashionably and eating locusts and wild honey.
Jesus, too, was greatly misunderstood in His day and even today. Hopefully, you are learning that not only is Jeuss your savior and the way to get a personal relationship with the Father, but He is much more. He is the truth, and he is the life. Did you catch the phrase they pinned on Jesus after watching Him for two years in ministry? It is in Matthew 11:19. Look back at it and let it sink in. After two years of watching Jesus' life from afar, the religious leaders and the people made a very astute observation. They said of Jesus, "' Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." They got part of it right, at least. While Jesus was not a glutton or a drunkard, he was a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Thank God that Jesus loved sinners; otherwise, where would I be? Where would you be? Know that as a leader, you will often be misunderstood. It is part of leadership. Your actions and words will often be misconstrued or taken out of context and used against you like they are being done here against Jesus. When that happens, I need to remind myself, and perhaps you as well, to Relax; it happened to the best. You are in good company.
How about you? What are you known as? Do sinners call you their friend? Do you spend enough time reaching out to non-believers that something others misunderstand you and call you a friend of sinners? It is something to think about!
Take a few moments and thank God for the leaders in your life and those who have invested so much in you. Then, please take a few minutes and write them a note telling them how much you appreciate their investment in you.
What else stands out from this reading? Share it below!
People often misunderstood Jesus as a leader. In today's study, Jesus pays tribute to another vastly unappreciated and misunderstood leader. He honors this leader, His dear friend, and co-laborer in the Kingdom of God.
Read: Luke 7:18-35; Matthew 11:2-19
What do we know at this point about John the Baptist?
Why did John send his disciples to Jesus?
Why was John doubting?
How is John the Baptist honored by Jesus?
What is Jesus modeling for us about leadership?
John the Baptist is sitting in prison, and he has doubts about whether Jesus is the Expected one. How can this be a leader doubting? Yes, John, sitting on a cold prison floor in Herod's cell, doubts the facts he previously proclaimed: that Jesus is the One (John 1:26,27,29). John, who had been telling people for over three years that Jesus is the Messiah and the Lamb of God, is doubting. So he sends some of his loyal disciples to ask Jesus a very heart-wrenching question, "are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"' (Luke 7:19). Leaders sometimes doubt even the things they have clung to for a long time. Why was John doubting?
I do not have the space to go into a lengthy discussion, only to point out a few facts to you. First, in Luke, we read that John's disciples were reporting to John all that Jesus was saying and doing.
In Mathew, we read that when John heard what Jesus was saying, He began to question. Therefore, there must have been something Jesus said that caused John to doubt the Master. Notice that when John's disciples arrive, Jesus is in the middle of teaching the crowd; they interrupt Him to tell Him what John sent them. Everyone present hears about John's doubts. Can you imagine the looks on the faces of the newly chosen leaders and Jesus' disciples? Remember that many of these disciples were former disciples of John (John 1:35-37). It was John who had pointed them to Jesus. How could it be that John is now going through this?
Jesus responds to John's doubts with a passage from scripture with a hidden meaning. It was apparent code between Jesus and John, and somehow Jesus knew that when John heard these words, he would say, "Yes–Jesus is the Messiah!". So Jesus sends the messengers, not with a yes or a no answer but with an Old Testament scripture from Isaiah 61:1-2 and 35:5, the same section Jesus read back in Nazareth when his own town's people rejected him.
Jesus then turns to the silent crowd and pays John an incredible tribute. Jesus says, "'Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist…'" (Matthew 11:11). If nothing else, this statement by Jesus should make you want to go back and find out who this guy was. If you do, you will find a leader with deep love, humility, faith, and a clear understanding of authority, just the type of leader the Father desires to use. Yet, they said to John, "'He has a demon'" (Matt. 11:18). The people of John's time, and our time, have always misunderstood John. Most people still have the image of John as a wild man running around in the wilderness dressed unfashionably and eating locusts and wild honey.
Jesus, too, was greatly misunderstood in His day and even today. Hopefully, you are learning that not only is Jeuss your savior and the way to get a personal relationship with the Father, but He is much more. He is the truth, and he is the life. Did you catch the phrase they pinned on Jesus after watching Him for two years in ministry? It is in Matthew 11:19. Look back at it and let it sink in. After two years of watching Jesus' life from afar, the religious leaders and the people made a very astute observation. They said of Jesus, "' Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners." They got part of it right, at least. While Jesus was not a glutton or a drunkard, he was a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Thank God that Jesus loved sinners; otherwise, where would I be? Where would you be? Know that as a leader, you will often be misunderstood. It is part of leadership. Your actions and words will often be misconstrued or taken out of context and used against you like they are being done here against Jesus. When that happens, I need to remind myself, and perhaps you as well, to Relax; it happened to the best. You are in good company.
How about you? What are you known as? Do sinners call you their friend? Do you spend enough time reaching out to non-believers that something others misunderstand you and call you a friend of sinners? It is something to think about!
Take a few moments and thank God for the leaders in your life and those who have invested so much in you. Then, please take a few minutes and write them a note telling them how much you appreciate their investment in you.
What else stands out from this reading? Share it below!
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4 Comments
I’ve heard that astronauts are always readjusting their position. If they don’t before long they are thousands of miles off course.
What I see is that Jesus didn’t get sidetracked. He stopped to answer the questions but continued on with His mission.
He wasn’t being hard hearted but He came to fulfill a mission.
There are times when I believe that I’m going in the direction God has for me, and someone, something gets me off course. It doesn’t take long for it to seem like I’m in the middle of an ocean way off track.
As a leader it is important to stay the course. There are lots of distractions.
It really stands out about John doubting! There are times or seasons when we all struggle or feel like we are being attacked. So, it’s encouraging to read and realize we are not alone. It’s just a time we get even closer to Jesus to cling to Him and dig deeper and deeper.
Although, John’s outcome wasn’t that what we would hope for he stood faithful and the end result he is in paradise with our Father!!! The real reward awaited him!
We must be like John and say, He must become greater and I must become less, especially in times of doubt, fear, marriages, parenting, family issues, depression, addiction, tragedy, etc.
When we are faithful, God will come through every time and you will have a testimony. Hallelujah!!!
Enjoyed digging deeper in this one :)
Back in Washington I sometimes facilitated bible studies that were usually around three months.
I found myself very surprised when men would shoot out little barbs of criticism.
I would think to myself , ‘if you don’t like my style or think I’m unqualified why don’t you step forward and lead?’. But then I would remember how Jesus knew who He was, and that the Father had sent Him. He knew that sometimes people would criticize and reject. Then it was no big deal if I know what God thinks of me, and that I’m doing His will, it doesn’t matter.
I must also say, each of your comments are very valuable. You may think your just sharing simple things you are thinking. Some times those very words your sharing comes into the very soul of others who read.