What kind of authority did Jesus give church leaders?
Servant authority, and nothing else. Jesus forbade His followers the thrones and honorific titles of the world: greatness in His kingdom is service, elders shepherd willingly as examples rather than lording it over the flock, and every leader remains under the authority of the one Teacher, the Christ.
This question arose from studying What does a church need from its leaders? and What does a healthy church look like?.
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The study
What the Scripture says
Ruling is ruled out
Jesus named the worldly model precisely, rulers who 'lord it over them,' and then vetoed it: 'It shall not be so among you.' Greatness in His kingdom runs the opposite direction, and He gave Himself as the measure: the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Church authority exists to wash, feed, and protect, never to dominate.
But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall beyour servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant. Whoever of you wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am in your midst as one who serves.
Honorific titles belong elsewhere
'Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven,' Jesus said, and 'neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.' The point is not politeness grammar but dependence: reverence and trust route to God, while leaders stay simply brothers, knowing the greatest among them is the servant of all.
But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
The Lord of all took the towel
John frames the foot washing with the fullest possible statement of Jesus' dignity: knowing the Father had given all things into His hands, He rose, laid aside His garments, and took a towel. Authority conscious of itself serves most freely. He told them plainly: if your Lord and Teacher washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
Shepherd willingly, be examples
Peter, who watched all of this happen, passed it on: shepherd the flock of God, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly, 'neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.' Paul echoes it: overseers care for the church of God, and leaders keep watch as those who will give account. Oversight is stewardship under authority, not ownership of it.
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
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Continue this trail
What does Peter say about Peter?→“Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Peter,and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hadeswill not prevail against it.”Does God require His servants to stay unmarried?→“forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”What is the church's mission in the world?→“Go,and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”Who are God's chosen people?→“and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.””Hold onto these
Verses to meditate on
It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall beyour servant. Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
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