Jesus the Servant King: Power Reimagined
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The Story We’re Taught About Power
Most of us grow up learning the same unspoken rule: if you want influence, take control. Climb the ladder. Guard your position. Don’t look weak. Over time, this story shapes how we understand leadership, success, and even our sense of purpose. Yet many discover a strange contradiction: the tighter we grasp for control, the more restless, disconnected, and exhausted we become. That inner tension opens the door to a deeper question: Is there another way to live and lead?
When Power Fails to Deliver
If power, as the world defines it, so often corrodes meaning and connection, is there an alternative vision for greatness, one that produces wholeness instead of harm? More specifically, does Jesus offer more than a moral challenge? Does He provide a workable redefinition of power and purpose that actually leads to life?
If power, as the world defines it, so often corrodes meaning and connection, is there an alternative vision for greatness, one that produces wholeness instead of harm? More specifically, does Jesus offer more than a moral challenge? Does He provide a workable redefinition of power and purpose that actually leads to life?
Understanding True Power
Jesus’ life and teachings exhibit a radical possibility that true greatness is not achieved through control, but through surrender and service. If purpose is rooted in obedience and self-giving rather than dominance, then meaning, identity, and lasting influence should emerge not from grasping power, but from laying it down.
Jesus’ life and teachings exhibit a radical possibility that true greatness is not achieved through control, but through surrender and service. If purpose is rooted in obedience and self-giving rather than dominance, then meaning, identity, and lasting influence should emerge not from grasping power, but from laying it down.
Meet the Servant King
Jesus presents Himself not as a conquering ruler, but as a Servant King. In Matthew 20 and Philippians 2, this dominant narrative of greatness is refuted and a true kingdom where leadership looks like humility, obedience, and sacrificial love is revealed. In this kingdom, purpose is not seized; it is received. Let us now explore how Jesus outlines power and what that means for identity, leadership, and everyday life.
Jesus presents Himself not as a conquering ruler, but as a Servant King. In Matthew 20 and Philippians 2, this dominant narrative of greatness is refuted and a true kingdom where leadership looks like humility, obedience, and sacrificial love is revealed. In this kingdom, purpose is not seized; it is received. Let us now explore how Jesus outlines power and what that means for identity, leadership, and everyday life.
The Power Jesus Defines and Demonstrates
Jesus observes that earthly rulers “lord it over” others, measuring success by authority and control. Then He draws a sharp contrast: in His kingdom, the greatest is the one who serves, and leadership means becoming a servant to all (Matthew 20:25–28).
Paul expands this understanding in Philippians 2 by describing Jesus’ deliberate self-emptying. Though equal with God, Jesus refuses to exploit His status. Instead, He embraces humility, obedience, and sacrificial love, even to the point of death (Philippians 2:5–8). The story does not end in loss; however, Jesus is exalted not because He seized power, but because He entrusted Himself to God (Philippians 2:9–11).
Historically, this model reshaped early Christian communities whose influence spread through compassion rather than coercion. Modern research echoes this truth, showing that service-oriented leadership develops deeper meaning, trust, and well-being than power-centered leadership (Frankl, 2006; Wong, 2010).
Jesus observes that earthly rulers “lord it over” others, measuring success by authority and control. Then He draws a sharp contrast: in His kingdom, the greatest is the one who serves, and leadership means becoming a servant to all (Matthew 20:25–28).
Paul expands this understanding in Philippians 2 by describing Jesus’ deliberate self-emptying. Though equal with God, Jesus refuses to exploit His status. Instead, He embraces humility, obedience, and sacrificial love, even to the point of death (Philippians 2:5–8). The story does not end in loss; however, Jesus is exalted not because He seized power, but because He entrusted Himself to God (Philippians 2:9–11).
Historically, this model reshaped early Christian communities whose influence spread through compassion rather than coercion. Modern research echoes this truth, showing that service-oriented leadership develops deeper meaning, trust, and well-being than power-centered leadership (Frankl, 2006; Wong, 2010).
Examination: The Power of God
Take a moment to reflect on a recent situation where you felt the need to take control, whether at work, in relationships, or in decision-making. Then reimagine that same situation through the lens of servanthood by asking:
What would humility look like here?
Whose needs am I being invited to serve?
What might I need to surrender?
This reflection can be done through journaling or discussions with friends, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ.
Take a moment to reflect on a recent situation where you felt the need to take control, whether at work, in relationships, or in decision-making. Then reimagine that same situation through the lens of servanthood by asking:
What would humility look like here?
Whose needs am I being invited to serve?
What might I need to surrender?
This reflection can be done through journaling or discussions with friends, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ.
Evaluation: Naming the Resistance
Now consider whether a servant-oriented response feels freeing, uncomfortable, or counterintuitive. Then reflect on how shifting from control to service might change outcomes such as trust, peace, or clarity of purpose. This step helps us to bring to the surface our internal resistance and reveals how deeply cultural definitions of power are ingrained.
Application: Practicing the Way of Jesus
Choose one concrete action to take that reflects Jesus’ model of power: listening before asserting, serving without recognition, or obeying God from our hearts. The goal is not performative humility, but practiced surrender. In doing so, we come to understand Jesus firsthand - namely greatness is not lost when power is laid down; it is discovered in faithful service.
Choose one concrete action to take that reflects Jesus’ model of power: listening before asserting, serving without recognition, or obeying God from our hearts. The goal is not performative humility, but practiced surrender. In doing so, we come to understand Jesus firsthand - namely greatness is not lost when power is laid down; it is discovered in faithful service.
Darnell Sheffield
References
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
Keltner, D., Gruenfeld, D. H., & Anderson, C. (2003). Power, approach, and inhibition. Psychological Review, 110(2), 265–284.
New Living Translation Bible. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4&version=NLT
Stark, R. (1996). The rise of Christianity. Princeton University Press.
Wong, P. T. P. (2010). Meaning therapy: An integrative and positive existential psychotherapy. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 40(2), 85–93.
References
Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s search for meaning. Beacon Press.
Keltner, D., Gruenfeld, D. H., & Anderson, C. (2003). Power, approach, and inhibition. Psychological Review, 110(2), 265–284.
New Living Translation Bible. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4&version=NLT
Stark, R. (1996). The rise of Christianity. Princeton University Press.
Wong, P. T. P. (2010). Meaning therapy: An integrative and positive existential psychotherapy. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 40(2), 85–93.
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