Feedback Friday: Three Portraits of Leadership

In Mark 15:1-15 three portraits of leadership emerge. The gist of the passage is that Jesus is standing trial before Pilate while the Sanhedrin, or Jewish leaders accuse him of many things and eventually rile up the crowd enough to sway Pilate away from his conviction of Jesus’ innocence.

1. The leadership of the Chief Priests. The members of the Sanhedrin provide a portrait of abusive, authoritarian leadership. They strong-arm their people into making a 180 degree turn from the position they held a week before at Jesus’ triumphant entry. Strong leaders can be very persuasive. The chief priests were able to turn this crowd against Jesus who only a few days earlier received him as their king. The danger in overly-strong leadership is that sometimes you might be wrong and if you manipulate your people to follow you your guilt will be double.

2. The leadership of the Pilate. Pilate provides a portrait of abdicating, people-pleasing leadership. At Jesus’ trial, Pilate repeatedly tests the waters of popular opinion. He bases his decisions not on the moral absolutes which steer his convictions but on poll numbers. Sometimes it is prudent, as a leader, to test the waters; especially when the issue is divisive and not absolutely black and white morally. But not when the answer is so obvious, as it is here.

3.  The leadership of Christ. In the face of this failed leadership we see Christ quietly, faithfully, lovingly doing what needs to be done. That’s real leadership. He doesn’t defend himself in the face of accusations. He doesn’t lash out erratically when his subjects cross him. He doesn’t quit his call when his mission becomes unpopular.

In the darkest night light shines the more clearly!

How do you struggle with leadership?