If I use the word "leader" what comes to your mind? What's a leader look like? What does a leader sound like in his or her own words, his or her voice? How do you choose or recognize someone in a position of leadership? How is the person elevated to that status in your mind?
John Maxwell notes that in a crisis a leader(s) show up. That makes it sound like they aren't necessarily chosen, but it sounds more like that rise up from the midst of the chaos that surrounds us.
On a separate but related note, I've always wondered about the war hero. The man (most often in our history) who was at the right place at the right time, or inserted himself into the situation to resolve, rescue, or sacrifice himself to save the lives of or end the situation of many. Have you ever met one face-to-face? I have had that privilege. In a funny way, I always pictured a John Wayne figure, or maybe a Sylvester Stallone-esque type. Chiseled, jaw that pushed out to form a strong appearance of confidence. You get the idea. This guy? Nope. Average height, mild-mannered, slight build.
During our conversation he told me of his days in battle, and he told me his assignment. The astonishment in my voice was not mistaken. "Really?" I asked. "No way. Wow, I can't believe that I'm talking to someone who did that." (He did reconnaissance in Vietnam behind enemy lines. Sat in trees as troops from the north went by, gathering troop positions. Literally ate off the land and went for days or more gathering the information).
Think of the people in Christ's time, then, looking for the Messiah. Another David, a king of kings. A man after God's own heart. Clearly a strong and charismatic leader, capable of uniting a troubled nation under Roman rule. Yet they forgot David's beginnings, the "youngest of Jesse's eight sons." The one, who when assigned to confront Goliath, caused Saul, the king, to doubt and "dress David in his own tunic and...armor...and a bronze helmet... David fastened his (Saul's) sword over the tunic and tried to walk because he wasn't used to them." David eventually convinces them he needs to shed the armor and meet Goliath on his own (and with God). (1 Samuel 16)
Isaiah 11 had told the Hebrews "a little child will lead them," but they, and we, miss that in our time of need. A baby had been born in Bethlehem to fulfill the scripture in humble beginnings (Luke 2). Christ would grow and become the fulfillment of the promise, and yet many missed and miss it. He's not the leader we were looking for. Not a powerful earthly ruler, but a humble servant who came to earth to deliver us.
We pray for our leaders among us in the crises of our lives. We ask for humility and wisdom from our leaders as they are among us, and we ask for God to guide them and for us to exhibit humility in following them. We pray that we all turn to Christ, the humble servant leader, to guide us in our time of trouble.
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