Letters From Grandpa #584
- LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
- 584
Dearest grandchild,
Today’s letter will be about the leadership of Jesus. During the last supper Luke wrote: “A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:24-30)
After 2,000 years of history Jesus is still the greatest leader the world has ever seen. The date lines of the world bend around the manger of His birth. George Henry Walser was once a militant unbeliever but late in his life came to recognize the overpowering genius of Jesus. The unbelieving Walser founded the city of Liberal, Missouri and arrogantly forbade any church building within the city limits. He bragged about this, claiming that Liberal, Missouri was the only town of its size in the world without a priest, preacher church, saloon, God or hell. Grandpa wrote a book about Walser and his city of unbelievers. If you are interested open this link. https://boycemouton.com/downloads/george_walser_liberal_mo.pdf
In 1909, the year before Walser died, he published a 442 page book titled The Life and Teachings of Jesus and described himself as a converted infidel. The focus of his faith was Jesus! Here is Walser’s beautiful tribute to the World’s Greatest Leader: “But there is one conqueror who stands alone, above them all; who has conquered riches with poverty, pride with humility, ostentation with meekness, hate with love. He succored the weak and suppressed the strong, reproved the tyrant and sympathized with the oppressed,. The wails of woe found pity in his heart. He was the personification of goodness, and kindness. He was by nature as tender of heart as a pure woman. He was a hero in fortitude and a great warrior in the battles of right against wrong. He was a conqueror of the passions of the body and a director of the intellect to the highest stand of men’s duties to one another. The sick of body, soul, and mind were of his charge. He had a deep concern for the afflictions of the world, and while ministering to them forgot himself. And finally he transformed the dreaded king of death into a white-winged angel of peace which kisses the eyelids down upon this world that they may open again on a better and brighter one, and made the soul the immortal song of joy, ‘Oh Death, where is thy sting? Oh Grave, where is thy victory?’ This was the conqueror Jesus whose words of truth pierced the hearts of men with barbs of love and led them from the trammels of sin to the glories of righteousness, in mercy, charity, and good will toward men. Jesus, with boundless love and forgiving spirit, carried his own cross to the place of crucifixion and with calmness he met the frowns of scorn, with love he answered the shafts of hate, and as the cruel spear entered his blessed side, and they could do no more, he uttered the grandest prayer that ever ascended to the throne of God: ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do’. What a triumph! What a victory! What a conqueror!”
It is interesting that the U.S. Marine Corps has adopted the leadership style of Jesus. Here is an article about the marines copied from the internet: “The marine corps has a maxim that states ‘leaders eat last”. And that’s not just a saying. Literally, soldiers are served by rank with the highest ranking officers eating only after everyone else has been served. We think that leadership is giving orders and being on the top of the food chain – getting perks and advantages that others in the company do not
have. That’s not leadership. Leadership is about sacrificing and giving up rights, not getting more rights. The person who’s lowest on the corporate ladder has the most rights. They can call in sick, they can complain if something doesn’t go their way. They can go home at the end of the day and forget all about work. The person at the top of the pyramid has laid down those rights. They have to think about everyone else all the time. Work is rarely, (if ever) fully off. They have to get in first and leave last. They can’t complain because if they do, everyone will follow their lead and nothing will get done. So if you aspire to be a leader, be prepared to give up your rights and start serving others. Leaders eat last.”
The selfish and self centered disciples could not follow in the foot steps of Jesus without help, and neither can we. When Jesus ascended into heaven He did not leave us like orphans (John 14:18). Jesus promised “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23). Consequently, Jesus wants to make His home in your heart! In fact, “Christ in you is the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) Christ in you provides His “incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:19). Moreover, His power that is at work within us “Is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20) Therefore, with the help of Jesus we can “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain deceit, but in humility consider others better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
Jude, the brother of our Lord, encourages us to follow the leadership of Jesus with this beautiful doxology - “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 24-25)
I love you,
Grandpa Boyce