Jesus as Perfect Follower

Abstract

Christians have long held that Jesus was the perfect leader. Yet, the scriptures record that Jesus said, “I have come to do the will of Him who sent me” (John 6:38). Thus, by His own admission, Jesus explains His role on earth as that of the perfect follower. This perspective of Jesus as follower empowers the Christian in the workplace to conscientiously perform responsibilities with integrity, credibility, and competence knowing that practicing a Christ-centered followership in the workplace is consistent with Jesus’ own role as a follower. By following the model of Jesus, established follower responsibilities of assuming responsibility, serving, challenging, participating in transformation, and taking moral action (Chaleff (2014) The courageous follower: standing up to & for our leaders, 3rd edn. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, San Francisco) become a natural response to the challenges within the workplace. In addition, Robert Kelley’s ((1992) The power of followership, Doubleday Currency, New York) perspective on the follower’s self-management, commitment, competence and focus, and courage all dovetail with the follower of Christ’s instruction to “do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23). As a follower of Christ, when given the role and responsibility to lead others, this following-leader (Ricketson (2014) Followerfirst: rethinking leading in the church, 2nd edn. Heartworks Publications, Cumming) will act with an ethic based upon the life and teachings of Jesus while respecting those with whom she/he works while accomplishing the purpose of the organization. By following the perfect follower, Jesus, in the workplace, workers can experience a tremendous sense of fulfillment as they perform whatever duties they are given. The lure of having to be the leader will have no effect because following is their fulfillment, as it was Christ’s.