The cup and baptism: Metaphors of servant leadership in Mark 10:38–39
Kgatle, Mookgo Solomon
This chapter is part of the fourth Christian Leadership Conference theme“Metaphors of leadership or leading by metaphors”. In the chapter, I present“cup” and “baptism” as metaphors of servant leadership in Mark 10:38–39. A
literature review on the two verses, Mark 10:38–39, will assist with an understanding
of the key message in the text. I will then explore various possible
biblical and metaphorical denotations of the “cup” and “baptism”, and apply the
implications in Mark 10:38–39 to the matter of servant leadership. The chapter
will illustrate that the call by Jesus for his disciples to drink his cup and to be
baptised with his baptism is a timely reminder that occupying positions of
greatness in the kingdom of God may involve suffering. It is a call for leaders
around the world to endure hardship and tribulation with the hope of an eschatological
vindication. It is also a call for leaders to embrace a leadership of
serving others rather than seeking to attain positions and places of honour.
According to Greenleaf (1997:14), servant leaders demand to serve first and to
acquire a position later. In other words, they seek primarily to minister and they
become great because of their attitude towards serving.
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