Redefining Leadership

By Tim Adams, IFES General Secretary

In 2024, as over 64 countries prepare for elections, the global stage is set for a significant exercise of democratic choice. Yet, amidst the fervour of political campaigns, disillusionment often lingers. Many of us are disheartened by the quality of leaders on the ballot paper. This is a sentiment that resonates across time, reaching back to the very era in which Jesus walked the earth. 

Born into a country under the yoke of oppression, Jesus experienced firsthand the ramifications of despotic rule. As a baby, his parents fled to Egypt for asylum from a king who was prepared to kill children to protect his position. This paints a poignant backdrop to Jesus's later teachings on leadership. Throughout his ministry, Jesus constantly challenged prevailing notions of power and authority. 

In Mark 10:42-44, confronted by the ambitious requests of James and John, Jesus provides a radical redefinition of leadership. He contrasts the conventional approach, characterized by domination and control, with his own paradigm: service and humility. "Not so with you," he declares, setting forth a model of leadership diametrically opposed to the power-hungry rulers of the day, "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 

As we engage in the democratic process in our countries, and also as we exercise our own leadership responsibilities in IFES, Jesus's life and teachings give us a timeless guide. He was the one who "made himself nothing" and took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7). He exemplified leadership, not through the assertion of power but through selfless service – his sacrificial death underscoring the profound depth of his love and commitment to the world. 

And as we continue to live in a world scarred by the outworkings of sinful leadership, I pray that this Easter, the remembrance of Jesus’s resurrection will rekindle your hope and serve as a call to action. His resurrection marks the beginning of a new kingdom and we, his people, are called to lead with those kingdom values wherever he has called us to serve.