Lately I've been doing a lot of reflecting on how people become leaders - leaders in the fuller sense of the word, in that they have been through a process.
Not just a process like a university degree, or a short course, but rather a process through their life, where God has blessed them, grown them, refined them, developed them and matured them so that they can become a leader with serious presence amongst others. After all, while everyone can and does lead somehow, the leaders who can command respect are those who have been tried, tested, and refined by God.
One leader who we can learn from is Mary. That's right, Mary the mother of Jesus.
In Acts 1:12-14, we get the impression that Mary, along with other women, is considered a leader, along with the apostles. Luke specifically naming her seems to indicate that he is considered to be a person of reasonable significance in the early church.
Today, I'd like to share with you 8 parts of leadership life that we can see in the life of Mary. These are common in the lives of Christians, and in the lives of leaders that God works through, as they mature to become people who make a difference for others.
1. Miracles and Excitement.
Mary of course hears the news that she is going to give birth to the Son of God. She is full of joy, tells others (Elizabeth, who responds with excitement) and is full of life. Of course, her news also brings hardship (being pregnant before marriage, the flight to Egypt, and more). When we discover that God has gifted us with something to share with others, we are also often full of joy and want to - and should - share our joy. Leaders have something to offer. It is a gift from God, and it is a source of joy.
2. Normal Growth and Development
Not much happens (it seems) in Mary's life for quite a while. In fact, after Matthew 2, we don't hear of Mary until Jesus starts his ministry, outside of one event - Mary and Joseph losing Jesus. For perhaps 30 years, Mary just got on with raising Jesus. For many leaders, this is much of life - just going about doing what God has asked us to do without a lot of fanfare. It can seem boring, it can be mundane, but it is critical preparation time. Whatever we experience in the more mundane seasons of leadership, it is important to recognise that we as leaders still live in relationship with Jesus.
3. Something big happens that we (think we) made happen.
In John 2:1-12 we read of Jesus turning water into wine. We also read that he did so at the request (potentially direction) of Mary. It was a fantastic thing that brought great joy to those at the wedding. It also would have brought great joy for Mary. As Christian leaders, there are times when we make something happen - or perhaps more accurately, God makes something happen, and we may have prayed for it or even been involved, but God did the work. This is a time of great joy for any leader. If only it was like this all the time!
4. We try and lead Jesus in a particular direction. He doesn't follow.
In Mark 3:20-35 we read of some high drama interactions between Jesus and his family and also Jesus and other leaders. The other leaders think Jesus is off course. It seems Mary does too. Jesus family come to 'take charge of Jesus'. It is always a challenge for Christian leaders when we realise that Jesus isn't doing what we wanted, that his will and ours isn't aligned. I think this happens to all mature leaders at some point. It's part of us learning to follow Jesus, instead of us trying to make Jesus follow us.
5. We see Jesus being mocked - perhaps even for his association with us!
In Mark 6:1-7, Jesus comes back to his home town. He teaches, and everyone is amazed - but not in a good way. I don't know what this was like for Mary - but it must have been hard, especially after the events in Mark 3. For all Christian leaders, we have times in our lives when our faith and our Saviour are mocked. This is something we must endure. And, if we are to be Christlike, the goal doesn't seem to be to power up. Rather, it seems to be to empower more leaders.
6. Being cared for amidst devastation.
In the gospels we hear that Mary was present at the death of Jesus. A horrible moment for her, bereft of hope. The reality is that many leaders have moments of no hope, moments where all seems lost. We get betrayed, people close to us die, we fail, whatever it happens to be. But in that moment on the cross, as Mary watches her son die, her son still cares for her by providing John to look after her (John 19:25-27). Every leader faces devastation. What we need in that time is people to love us, to be present with us in that moment.
7. Times of hopelessness
Jesus was dead from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning, and that time for Mary must have been terrible. The reality is that often leaders who have been through a time of hopelessness are best at providing hope to those in their own hopeless time. It gives us better compassion, understanding, and grace. For Mary, it was until Sunday morning, but must have seemed an eternity. The Israelites wandered for 40 years in the desert. We all face our struggles.
8. New life
Mary would have had great joy at knowing her son was raised from the dead - and then she goes on to be a leader in the church. Every leader needs Jesus to restore them, and needs regular doses of life from God and God's people, in order to lead well.
I share all of this because you, as a leader, will have experienced all of these - or will in the future. Leadership growth happens both through the training sessions we participate in, and the training of life with God and others. Recognising what is happening in us and to us often helps us slow down and receive the grace that God has for us in hard times - and helps us become a leader who lasts.
God bless your leadership today and always,
Chris.
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