Leadership Misunderstood

Wrestling with what it means to lead like Jesus is no small thing. It’s one thing to admire a leader who loves deeply, walks humbly, has unwavering faith, and lives with clear authority under God—but it’s another thing to follow that example. Jesus embodied all these qualities, and for those who long to lead like him, the challenge can feel overwhelming.

As we move through this study on the life of Christ, keep in mind that only fifty key moments have been selected—so some important events, like the raising of the widow’s son (Luke 7:11–17), are not covered in detail. But today’s reading offers something just as significant: Jesus speaks openly and powerfully about another leader—his friend and co-labourer, John the Baptist. This was someone who, like Jesus, was often misunderstood. So what can we learn from the way Jesus honours him?

Questions from your reading

• What do we know about John the Baptist up to this point?
• Why did John send his disciples to Jesus?
• What might have caused John’s doubts?
• How does Jesus honour John the Baptist?
• What is Jesus modelling for us about leadership?
• What other questions does this raise for you?

Reflecting on your reading

John the Baptist is in prison, and doubt has crept in. He sends his disciples to Jesus with a pointed and painful question: “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:19). This is the same John who once declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God (John 1:29), who had spent over three years pointing people towards him. But now—cold, confined, and alone—he’s struggling. Can leaders really experience doubt like this? Yes. Even the most faithful can find themselves asking hard questions in hard places.

Luke tells us John’s disciples had been reporting everything Jesus was doing. Matthew adds that when John heard what Jesus was saying, that’s when the questions began. Something in Jesus’ message didn’t match John’s expectations—and it caused him to pause.

When John's disciples come to Jesus, they interrupt his public teaching. Everyone hears the question. Imagine the tension. Many in the crowd had once followed John themselves (see John 1:35–37). How confronting it must have been to hear that even John now had doubts.

And yet, Jesus doesn’t rebuke him. Instead, he responds with a passage of Scripture that carries deep significance: fragments of Isaiah 61:1–2 and 35:5—the same portion he had once read in the synagogue at Nazareth. There’s no direct answer, just Scripture. But for John, it would have been unmistakable. Jesus knew that this message, coded in the language of prophecy, would assure John that the Messiah had indeed come.

Then Jesus turns to the crowd and honours John with striking words: “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist...” (Matt. 11:11). What a tribute. If nothing else, this should make us pause and ask: Who was this man? What made him so great?

Look closely, and you'll find the same four traits of godly leadership in John that we’re seeing in Jesus: love, humility, faith, and authority. And yet, John was labelled as someone with a demon (Matt. 11:18). He was wildly misunderstood—then and now. Many still imagine him as just a wild man in the wilderness with strange food and stranger clothes.

Jesus was misunderstood, too. Hopefully, by now it’s becoming clearer that he is not only Saviour but also Teacher, Friend, and the Way to true life. Look again at Matthew 11:19—what did people say after watching Jesus’ ministry unfold? “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners.’” They were wrong about the first two, but they were right about the last. Jesus was indeed a friend to sinners.

Thank God he was—because where would any of us be without that grace?

As a leader, you’ll likely be misunderstood, too. Your actions, motives, and words may be misrepresented or twisted. But remember—you’re in good company.

Applying what you’ve read

How about you? What are you known for?

Would anyone describe you as a friend of sinners? Do you engage with people who are far from God in such a way that others might even misunderstand your motives?

That’s worth reflecting on.

Spend some time today with one of your disciples. Talk about what you’ve seen in Jesus and John, and what leadership qualities you want to cultivate.

Then take a few minutes to thank God for the leaders who’ve invested in you. Better yet—write them a note to let them know how much you appreciate their impact on your life.