What makes a good leader? Who should we follow? I’m in the middle of the 2-year Reach Australia Leadership Development Program. So I hope, by the end of it, I’ll be able to tell you!
I guess it depends on what you mean by GOOD. Adolph Hitler was a good leader in the sense that he was EFFECTIVE – people FOLLOWED him. But that doesn’t mean he was a MORALLY good leader.
So perhaps a simple definition is that a good leader is both effective/ AND MORALLY good. (Not only knows how and where to lead people. But also works for the good of those who are LED. Rather than for the good of the leader.)
And this section of Hebrews is all about GOOD LEADERS. In particular, that JESUS is a good leader. (Someone worth following). He’s EFFECTIVE, and he WORKS FOR THE GOOD of those he leads.
It continues the theme of Hebrews that JESUS IS BETTER. In chapter one we saw that Jesus BRINGS A BETTER MESSAGE than angels. Chapter 2 shows he’s a better LEADER than angels. And, into chapter 3, a better leader than MOSES.
Which means, chapter 3 v1, we should FIX OUR THOUGHTS on him. Pay attention. Examine. Study. Meditate on. Out of all the leaders in the world calling you to FOLLOW them. (Effective and ineffective leaders. Loud and quiet leaders. Selfless and self-serving. Egotistical and humble. Bullying or weak.) JESUS is the BETTER leader. The one WORTH following. So fix your thoughts on him.
Notice v10. There’s so much in this verse. And we’ll come back to it. But just notice how Jesus is described. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make THE AUTHOR OF THEIR SALVATION perfect through suffering.
That word for AUTHOR is an interesting one. It’s Archegos ἀρχηγός . The NEW NIV translates it PIONEER. ESV has FOUNDER. ESB has SOURCE. And, intriguingly, the New King James version translates it CAPTAIN.
Whenever you get a range of different translations for a word, you know there’s something interesting going on. It’s got TWO meanings. Either PIONEER/ ORIGINATOR. Or LEADER/ RULER. In v10 it’s closer to the FIRST of these meanings. Because he’s the one who’s the SOURCE of our salvation. The one who BEGINS it. Or MAKES IT HAPPEN.
Which is a very good reason to FOLLOW him, isn’t it? (To pay close attention to him, as ch 3 v1 encourages us?) If he’s the one who can lead you to RESCUE, then it makes sense to WATCH HIM CLOSELY. (Like the mountain guide who leads you through danger to safety. Or the doctor who’s advice and treatment saves your life. Or the army scout who knows the way through the landmines and who leads his brothers through the minefield.)
So chapter 2 is all about WHY Jesus is the better leader. (Why he’s worth paying careful attention to.)
If Jesus is the author of OUR SALVATION. It begs the question WHAT DO WE NEED SAVING FROM? Turn back to v5 of chapter 2. The first idea is about CREATION. Genesis chapter 1 and 2. How God gave LEADERSHIP over the world to human beings. With Adam as our representative. Everything was SUBJECT to him.
And in v6 there’s a quote from Psalm 8, which is a poem reflecting on the honour and dignity God gave human beings when he created them in his image. And gave them dominion, or leadership, over the earth. To rule and care for it.
Or as v7 puts it 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; YOU CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR 8 and PUT EVERYTHING UNDER HIS FEET.”
The picture is of the Garden of Eden. With Adam and Eve, walking with God, naming the animals, tending the garden. Everything under their care and control. Adam was God’s second-in-command. Caring for, cultivating, ruling God’s world. It’s a wonderful image of GOOD LEADERSHIP. Wise, beneficial, ethical. Acting for the good of the things he leads. True humanity living out his God-given role.
But you don’t have to look too far, or think too deeply, to realise it’s hardly an accurate description of the world TODAY. Which is what the writer to the Hebrews realizes as well. Look at v8 (the second half). YET AT PRESENT WE DO NOT SEE EVERYTHING SUBJECT TO HIM.
Because immediately after Genesis chapter TWO is chapter THREE. Where SIN enters the world and RUINS it. The present fallen world doesn’t LOOK like humanity has dominion. Most things we’ve got NO CONTROL over. The weather, sickness, Natural disasters. The stock market. The coffee maker breaking down. A flat battery or a puncture on the car when it’s most inconvenient. The reality is we’re living in a fallen world. And it’s not subject to us. Mostly, WE’RE subject to IT.
But as we read on, there’s ONE AREA IN PARTICULAR where our helplessness is seen most clearlt… DEATH. Look down to v14. Talking about Jesus, who we’ll come back to in a few minutes. 14 by his death he might destroy him who holds THE POWER OF DEATH-that is, the devil- 15 and free THOSE WHO ALL THEIR LIVES WERE HELD IN SLAVERY BY THEIR FEAR OF DEATH.
That’s US! Humanity! All our lives, held in slavery by the fear of death! The fear of the unknown. Fear of THE END. The fear and helplessness of something beyond our control and experience. The frustration of knowing that the things we build/ won’t last. That’s not RULING! It’s a long way from God putting everything under our feet.
And it doesn’t matter how much of a ruler or leader you are – how rich or influential – DEATH is the great equalizer. It doesn’t matter how many academic qualifications you gain. Or how physically attractive, or fit, you are. Or how much influence or power you have. Or how morally good you are Or how talented or successful or popular. How EVER much you achieve of your potential. How ever much you MAKE of yourself. However much you think everything is under your feet. You’ll STILL DIE. You’ll never, by yourself, regain that picture from Psalm 8. “Crowned with glory and honour. Everything under your feet.” Because, in the end, death will WIN.
The Ultimate Humanity
UNLESS…. You can follow the leader. Unless you pay close attention to JESUS. WE may not be ruling, but Jesus IS/ all that the Psalm talks about. Jesus is THE ULTIMATE HUMAN. He’s achieved the TOTAL DOMINION that mankind was DESIGNED for. Because he beat the GREATEST FOE. The ultimate spoiler – DEATH.
And what’s more, he’s WON that same success for THE REST OF US. A leader we SHOULD and CAN follow. Look at the logic. The end of v8 “Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him (that’s humankind).”
And then he continues in v9
9 But we see JESUS, who WAS made a little lower than the angels, NOW CROWNED WITH GLORY AND HONOR / BECAUSE HE SUFFERED DEATH, so that by the grace of God HE MIGHT TASTE DEATH FOR EVERYONE.
Jesus is the one who truly DOES measure up to God’s design for humanity. He WAS lower than the angels – that was during his life on earth. But NOW, he’s ENTHRONED IN HEAVEN. Ruling with God the Father. Everything under his feet.
Why? Because he suffered DEATH on behalf of everyone. In the PLACE of everyone. He died the death that all humanity deserved/ so that we could ESCAPE that death. Notice that he suffered death/ but it was ONLY A TASTE. He took a SIP. It wasn’t PERMANENT. He drank from the cup, but he was immune to the poison. And that’s why he’s THE AUTHOR OF OUR SALVATION, v10. Because he BEAT death, so we could enjoy the benefits he WON. He’s the PIONEER. The FOUNDER. The CAPTAIN.
One Family.
He lives, and dies, and lives again. Expressing the FULL POTENTIAL of HUMANITY. Everything, including DEATH, is subject to him. As God created human beings, and MORE. And when he saves us, he brings US into that new experience. That new leadership and subjection over creation, including death. Fulfilling our God-creation POTENTIAL. Verse 10 puts it this way. We’ve been BROUGHT TO GLORY. Notice how v10 continues
10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
It’s FITTING that he pioneered salvation through SUFFERING. (Appropriate. Suitable). Why fitting, or appropriate? Because HUMAN LIFE is about suffering. And Jesus ENTERED OUR EXPERIENCE.
He was willing to JOIN THE FAMILY. Verse 11 says Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Jesus descended to the broken, washed-out, shadow of humanity. Fallen from God’s design. And became ONE OF US. Like us in every way. Not ashamed to stand alongside those he’d come to save. Even to call them BROTHERS. But the twist was/ the suffering he shared with us was the means of DEFEATING our suffering. Our great ENEMY. He became the author of salvation by DYING.
Which is the OPPOSITE of the way MOST human leaders or rulers achieve victory. Normally dominion and rule comes by EXERTING POWER. SMASHING enemies. Like Joe Biden, who, this week, said this after announcing the death of al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri,
“Now, justice has been delivered. And this terrorist leader is no more. People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer. We make it clear again tonight that, no matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will FIND YOU AND TAKE YOU OUT.”
And that’s what we expect of strong leaders. That’s what we think of when we imagine EVERYTHING UNDER HIS FEET.
But Jesus did it DIFFERENTLY. He was perfected – he completed the plan – not through a deadly drone strike, but through SUFFERING. Not though coming FIRST, but by coming LAST. Verse 14 makes the point even more wonderfully.
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that BY HIS DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM WHO HOLDS THE POWER OF DEATH-THAT IS, THE DEVIL- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
His death DESTROYS death. And the one who holds the POWER of death. Because he only TASTED death. He spat it out again. Which means he frees us from the slavery of the FEAR of death. Just dwell on those words for a moment. Savor them. REJOICE in them. We’re freed… from the slavery… of the fear… of death.
And isn’t that often the Christian experience? Hope in hospital beds. Peace at funerals. Joy and contentment when receiving bad news from the medical specialist. Courage in the face of deadly persecution.
Death is dead because of the death of our brother, the Pioneer of our salvation, Jesus. The one who makes a way through death. Who achieves the dominion humanity was DESIGNED for. And who leads us into a life and a future WE were designed for. Co-rulers with him.
At the moment we don’t see much of that rule. That’s the whole point of the letter. Written to PERSECUTED Christians. To encourage them to STICK AT IT through the troughs and valleys. Through the persecution of the WORST sort of leaders and rulers. There’s not much VICTORY in view for THEM. There’s fear. There’s suffering. There’s death.
And it’s the same with us. But we can begin to journey TOWARD it. We can BEGIN to achieve our potential. To be freed from the slavery of the fear of death.
3. Therefore
And it starts with FOLLOWING THE LEADER. Notice the application there at the start of chapter 3? V1.
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, FIX YOUR THOUGHTS on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him,
If we’re to FOLLOW him through DEATH to DOMINION, we need to TRUST. Notice that it’s the FAITHFULNESS of Jesus that’s highlighted. He STUCK AT IT. He trusted his Father. And we’re to do the same. Fix our thoughts on Jesus. And TRUST him as our pioneer. Trust his appointment by the Father. Trust the effectiveness of his sacrifice for sin as high priest. Trust his defeat of death and Satan.
And when we DO that it makes A REAL PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE. We begin to EXPERIENCE what it means to be set free from the slavery of the fear of death. We begin to experience JOY. And CONTENTMENT. And COURAGE.
And as we fix our THOUGHTS on him, we can FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE. As the one who lived the most fulfilled human life ever. The best leader to follow. In particular as THE SERVANT leader. He destroyed death by DYING. By giving up his life for those he leads. Rather than achieving dominion with violence and power. Victory comes with HUMBLE SERVICE.
Fix your thoughts on THAT example. Jesus is the better leader. In Mark 10 v45 Jesus says he didn’t come to be served. But to SERVE and to give his life as a ransom for many. And he challenges US to do the same.
“You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your SERVANT,44 and whoever wants to be FIRST must be slave of all.
Good leaders SERVE. Good leaders GIVE UP THEIR LIVES for those they lead. Follow leaders like THAT. BE a leader like that.
But don’t just look to Jesus’ EXAMPLE. (To inspire or imitate). Look to him for HELP. For UNDERSTANDING. And EMPATHY. We can sometimes think it was EASY for Jesus to do what he did. To become man, to resist temptation, and to suffer and die. After all, he was God. And so it’s impossible for us to follow him.
But look back to the end of Ch 2. When we feel the crushing weight of the world. (When we’re under the feet of the world, rather than it being under OUR feet.) Remember that Jesus was LIKE US IN EVERY WAY. V18
18 Because HE HIMSELF SUFFERED WHEN HE WAS TEMPTED, he is able to HELP THOSE WHO ARE BEING TEMPTED.
Jesus achieved his victory and reign through suffering and death. And God’s plans for YOU will include temptations and suffering. God KNOWS. He experienced it all through his son. Jesus UNDERSTANDS. He pleads our case with compassion and empathy. But also he offers us HIS POWER THAT DEFEATED those temptations and suffering. He’s ABLE TO HELP.
There’s NO OTHER WAY we can achieve our God-given potential. We can’t do it by ourselves. Walk DAILY in dependence on Jesus. Ask for HIS power, and strength and patience and resilience and faithfulness and compassion and love. To help YOU to be the leader who serves. The one who is FIRST in God’s kingdom by being LAST.
Our mission as a church is growing followers of Jesus. And growing followers of Jesus have FIVE CHARACTERISTICS. The one I want to focus on today is LOVING OTHERS. Don’t come to BE served. Be GREAT by being A SERVANT. By coming LAST.
Colossians 3:12-14 commands us
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
A growing follower of Jesus who loves others will be genuine, encouraging, generous, truth-speaking, inclusive, united, forbearing, forgiving.
To what extent do our church gatherings reflect these qualities? To what extent do YOU reflect these qualities? Take a moment to LOOK at that list. At the Bible verses. Which of these qualities do YOU need to work on? Which ones have you FAILED at?
Look to Jesus to HELP you with them. Look to his EXAMPLE. And to him for STRENGTH. Fix your thoughts on Jesus, the pioneer of our salvation. He’s bringing you to GLORY.
The Bible Talks 