Jesus Christ and International Leadership

Around 27 BC a man by the name of Jesus of Nazareth came to be the son of God. Claiming that
he was of the very essence and character of God, he astounded hundreds of followers. Among his
miracles performed included feeding five thousand of his followers with only a few loaves of bread and a
few pieces of fish. In our modern era, people still believe of his works and in his preaching about love.
Many international leaders, such as Woodrow Wilson and Mother Theresa lived by his teachings.

This paper will describe how Jesus himself was an international leader. The format will be as
follows: Jesus as a leader, his role as an international leader, and how he still influences events
internationally. This paper argues that what Jesus taught and how he acted as a leader differed much
from other teachings on leadership. Jesus was not just a leader, he was a servant leader.

Dale Carnegie’s teachings on leadership will be the first to be compared with Jesus’ teachings.
First Carnegie tells his readers in How to Win Friends and Influence People that we should always show
appreciation for people. He distinguishes true appreciation from flattery and says that it is only true
appreciation that will open doors. [insert quote]. Similarly, Jesus also shows a strong appreciation for
people. The story of the Prodigal Son teaches the reader that in addition to loving one’s neighbor one
should also love one’s enemy. When the spendthrift son had wasted all of his father’s money on an
extravagant lifestyle and prostitutes, he realized his disastrous lifestyle and come home. Yet his father
not only welcomed him back but slaughtered the best pig and organized a feast in his son’s honor. The
Sermon on the Mount praised those who no one else wanted to praise. “Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed
are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,” said Jesus. Yet Carnegie asks for us to show appreciation
for others because we may never know which opportunities and benefits doing so will give us. Jesus
taught us to honor and appreciate other, especially those who are not usually receive accolade, because
it is part of God’s purpose for us.

Second Carnegie emphasizes that we should give the other person a reputation to live up to .
[insert quote]. Jesus teaches something similar. Before he dies on the cross, Jesus gets down on his
knees and washes his disciples feet. When one of his disciples disapproved at doing such a demeaning
task, Jesus replied, “ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger
greater than the one who sent him.” On encouraging others, Jesus also teaches us to submit to God’s
will. The Book of Luke tells us that right before Jesus’ arrest he prayed while sweating drops of blood, “
Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. “ Jesus gives us a
reputation to live up to showing us his example. He does not motivate us teach us to be prideful or to
instill pride in others. As leaders we should act with humility and encourage others to do so as well. We
should inspire in others a reputation to be a servant.

Third Carnegie tells his readers to encourage instead of punishing. [insert quote]. Jesus,
as well, rarely forced others to accept him and his teaching. Rather he encouraged them by being
merciful and voicing his higher expectation. Once when Jesus was at the temple, an adulterous woman
was brought in to be stoned. The Pharisees wanted to stone her for breaking one of the Ten
Commandments and asked him for his opinion. Jesus demanded, “ Let any one of you who is without
sin be the first to throw a stone at her. “ After cold-hearted Pharisees had left, the shocked and sincerely
grateful women stayed behind. Jesus simply told her to go and leave her life of sin. While Jesus was
being beaten by the Roman soldiers and spit upon, bystanders yelled that Peter was one of Jesus’
disciples. Peter embarrassed by the bullying and scared for his own well-being, denied the accusers
three times. Instead of standing up for Jesus, Peter ran away and wept. However, Jesus understood the
importance of encouragement. After his resurrection he comes back to visit Peter and asks Peter to
shepherd Jesus’ other followers. Carnegie tells his readers to encourage others and praise all of their
small accomplishments mostly for the motivator’s own benefit. Jesus on the other hand saw people as
the ends and not the means, valuing them not for what they did but for who is were.

His disciples went on to influence people all around the world.