Crucified Leadership

Jesus is identified to the crowd that came to arrest him by Judas, who betrays him with a kiss. Jesus responds, calling him “Friend” (Matt. 26:50). He was a friend of sinners—right to the end. Betrayed into the hands of the religious leaders, Jesus is led away to be questioned, lied about, treated unjustly, beaten, whipped, and finally crucified between two criminals.

Questions from your reading

• As you read these passages, what are all the ways Jesus suffered for us?
• What does Jesus model about leadership?
• As you reread the crucifixion story, what new insights stand out?
• What questions are you still wrestling with?

Reflecting on your reading

So much has already been said, written, and portrayed about Jesus' death. It’s clear he suffered deeply in his humanity during those final hours. But what’s not always highlighted is how much he suffered spiritually.

The night before his crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Matt. 26:38). Perhaps the most profound moment of suffering came as he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). In that moment, the Father placed all of humanity’s sin on Jesus. As Isaiah prophesied:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).

One of the deepest agonies Jesus endured was being forsaken by the Father. Carrying the full weight of our sin, he experienced separation so we would never have to. Once for all time, the sacrifice was made. The Passover Lamb had been slain. The veil of the temple was torn in two. And with that, the way was opened. We now have access—face-to-face access—to the throne room of heaven.

Those who believe are adopted into this new family and given unlimited access to the presence of the living God. It's astonishing.

Hebrews puts it this way:

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:19–22).

Through Jesus’ sacrifice, we can come before the Father spotless. Jesus took our stains and washed them white as snow.

The place that was once forbidden—the Holy of Holies—has now been made accessible to all. How can it be that our God would die for us? It was the great exchange: we owed a debt we could not pay—he paid a debt he did not owe.

Jesus lived out his love as an example for us:

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

He laid down his life for you and me. In that moment, the innocent died for the guilty. The holy for the unholy. He died for us.

But it wasn’t just the end of his life that was marked by suffering—Jesus suffered throughout his entire life. Think about what we've explored over the past few weeks. In heaven, he was adored and worshipped by angels. Obeyed. Believed in. Yet he gave all that up to come to earth as the greatest missionary of all time. He came to be hated, disobeyed, mistreated, rejected, and ultimately killed.

It was the will of the Father for Jesus to go to the cross. Not because the Son wanted it—but because he was willing to submit. Willing to show us what love truly looks like.

The will of the Father hasn’t changed. Just as Jesus died on the cross, we’re called to die to ourselves. As Paul wrote, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31), and again,

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

To follow Jesus is to make that same exchange—laying down our sinful, self-centred lives to receive his holy, glorious life. What a trade.

Are you willing to die to yourself? Are you willing to submit to the will of the Father?

Applying what you’ve read

Leadership, Jesus-style, means laying down our own desires, passions, and dreams in order to submit to the will of the Father. Have you died to yourself?

Spend time meditating on today's Bible passages. Notice how Paul lived it out. His message is consistent: death to self, life in Christ.

Talk with some of your disciples about this today.