"For who is
greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at
the table? But I am among you as one who serves."
The long journey is nearing an end for Jesus and his disciples. As they
are gathering for a meal, known today as "The Last Supper" or "The
Lord’s Supper," the disciples still don’t get it. Once again they are
quarreling among themselves, jockeying for a position in the coming Kingdom, vying for the
opportunity to say, "I am the Greatest." Once again, Jesus explains that his
kingdom is vastly different from the normal kingdom. His leadership requires servitude.
I thought back to the nine principals I have worked with over the
years. Some sought glory for themselves, and some worked to improve the image of the
school, but the most able concentrated on ways to help us be more able. They were
interested in our professional growth so that the students could in turn benefit from our
expertise.
That is always the type of leadership Jesus practiced; he was both
master and servant.
