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John the Baptist: Raising Leaders
We usually think of John the Baptist as a prophet and preacher, raising his voice alone in the desert. But an integral part of his ministry was identifying and raising leaders around him. Although we don’t have much information about John’s disciples, a careful reading of his story shows that John called and equipped a team around him. Consider these glimpses into his leadership team:
Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” (Mark 2:18).
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1).
When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Mt 11:2-3). Like Jesus, John preached to crowds, but raised a few leaders called disciples. He poured his life into a few leaders and teaches all servant leaders to do the same.
John engaged leaders. We don’t know how John called them or how many there were. But it is clear that he called a significant team of leaders. John’s vision was to turn the nation around and he knew he could not do that alone. He knew that he needed a team and recognized that a part of his calling was to identify, equip, and empower other leaders. His disciples were his leadership team. They responded to his call, embraced his vision, and devoted themselves to his cause. Servant leaders realize that they cannot do all the work. They are willing to work hard, but they don’t do all the work. They understand their role is to identify others around them who will help carry out the vision. They deliberately and strategically engage others on their teams. Servant leaders humbly acknowledge that their gifts alone will not achieve the vision and they need the strengths of others to complement their team.
John equipped leaders. We do not have a lot of information about what John did to train his team of leaders. But it is clear that he invested in their personal development. He taught them to pray and they fasted “often” (see Luke 5:33). He taught them the spiritual disciplines he had learned in the desert and which they also needed. He invested time in their lives even when it might have been easier to do the work himself. John was intentional about developing his team and he reproduced himself in their lives. Servant leaders invest in others not only because they want a team around them but because they see the potential in the lives of others. For servant leaders, equipping others is about more than accomplishing their vision, it is about releasing the potential in others. So they invest in the development of their team. They teach, correct, evaluate, and encourage as a part of the equipping process. Servant leaders acknowledge that the measure of their success is not only in what they do but who they equip.
John empowered leaders. As John equipped his leadership team, he also gave them power to help in significant ways. Crowds of people came to hear John and he surely empowered his team to help as he taught and baptized. We know that Jesus’ disciples actually baptized, and it is likely that John’s disciples also helped him in this way. They engaged in conversation with others, which in one instance (see John 3:25) led to an argument over religious practices! When John was in prison he trusted his disciples to go and ask Jesus if He was the one they were waiting on. After Herod murdered John, his disciples came and buried him. In these ways, it is evident that John not only equipped his team, but empowered them to contribute in meaningful ways. As a servant leader, he recognized that as other leaders develop and grow they need to be empowered to make significant contributions to the team. Servant leaders seek not to gain power, but release power to others. John did it well and left an example for us to follow.
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler
In the next issue we’ll look at how John released leaders. |
