Unparalleled leadership

Heads of state and government attract people’s attention wherever they go. A host of factors can be attributed to the hype. Their itinerary is largely advertised both in the print and electronic media.  Government Press Officers, Party Publicists and other apologists work round the clock in order to ensure that every minutest detail is attended to. 

  

People flock to see them for different reasons.  Some do so just to see the motorcade that carries them; others turn up to admire the protective task highly trained bodyguards who travel with them performs.  And then they are those who turn up in their large numbers to see the red carpet treatment, the meticulous saluting from military personnel and all the accompanying pomp.

During Christ’s three-year stay on earth people followed Him wherever He went.  But Jesus had no publicist, owned no motorcade, had no bodyguards, no red carpet was rolled for Him and He didn’t receive any salute from anyone.  And yet a lot of people came to see Him. These people were never ferried in trucks from places far and near (the African leaders way of drumming up patronage, at least the Sub Saharan way) but had voluntarily walked long distances in order to see the most wonderful man who ever walked the earth. Several biblical incidents testify to these facts.

Great leaders have come and gone but none of them was more compassionate than Jesus. No matter how large the crowds, Jesus made Himself available to everyone who presented himself before Him. With no red tape mechanisms in place, people shouted on top of their voices to attract His attention.  If the same were to be done to Caesar one would have been arrested for indecent behaviour towards authority. Today, shouting in order to get attention might also warrant one a charge of a booking in the cooler for public disorder and indecent behaviour towards high authority. 

During political campaign rallies leaders go out to the remotest areas of the country in order to sell their party manifestoes to the voters.  Even at such occasions local people do not have the privilege of meeting and talking with these leaders on one on one basis save for a few selected fortunate souls who act as their spokespersons. 

But people were able to rub shoulders with Jesus without being shoved aside.  Take the case of one woman who lived with hemorrhage for 12 years. She had to jostle through the thick crowd and eventually managed to touch the hem of His garment for her healing. (Luke 9: 43-48)  Amazing determination from a woman who in my opinion was rather feeble and helpless to wrestle her way through an ecstatic moving crowd! How she fought her way through this strong male dominated crowd for the healing of her life still baffles me.  Only one word is fitting – determination. 

      

And there is a story of one diminutive tax collector who resorted to climb a sycamore tree in an attempt to see this humble man from Bethlehem of Judea who walked with 12 disciples, most of them fishermen.  The height disadvantaged tax collector voluntarily left his cash office in order to see the passing Jesus. (Luke 19: 1-10) Imagine what can happen to a modern day Zacchaeus in any country who might climb a tree in order to have a better view of a passing presidential convoy?  Security personnel may pounce on him and categorically claim that he had some evil intentions.  

Without haste a treason charge can be instituted for this unfortunate fellow even though there could be no tangible reasons to prove this helpless case. Those advancing the case might probably allege that our modern day Zacchaeus had intended to jump at the motorcade as it sped past thereby creating an inexplicable accident in the process.  And yet the midget Zacchaeus earned salvation through his monkey tree antics!  By climbing the sycamore tree, one would think that Jesus would have accused him of impropriety.  None of the 12 disciples accused him either of trying to pelt stones at the procession.  By the way no one knew there was a man up in the tree until Jesus commanded him to come down and play the host: “Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today!” 

The lepers, the demon possessed and all afflicted people got the attention they deserved from the man of the cross who bore the sins of the world. To date, Jesus Christ continues to touch the hearts and minds of all those who are willing to hearken to his call: “Come unto me, all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. Christ only offers unparalleled compassion and leadership for all mankind.