When speaking about the leadership style of Jesus Christ one often gets the feeling that Christians cannot believe that Jesus promoted a specific leadership style. Considering that everything that Jesus did was exceptional, one finds it strange that the followers of Jesus sometimes insist that He had a mediocre leadership style.

The author discussed this and many other related issues in his book Being A True Shepherd Leader which is available on his web site. In this article however, we want to focus on Jesus message to His disciples through the ages, as found is His words to the Apostle Peter.

Let us begin by ascertaining the relevance of Jesus words to Peter with regards to the church of today. In Matthew chapter 16 our Lord speaks to Peter who was previously known as Simon. and calls him Peter, (Petros or Petrus) meaning 'Rock'. And then He proceeds to say that on that same rock (Petros) He would build His church.

Mat 16:15-18 AMP He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? (16) Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and [4] to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. (18) And I tell you, you are [5] Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a [6] huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the [7] infernal region) shall [8] not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].

Without delving into a theological exposition, the implications of these words can be seen happening in the book of Acts.

Act 2:14-16 AMP But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: You Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be [explained] to you so that you will know and understand; listen closely to what I have to say. (15) For these men are not drunk, as you imagine, for it is [only] the third hour (about 9:00 a.m.) of the day; (16) But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

Here we read about the founding of the Christian faith by the Apostle Peter. Most theologians will agree that Peter did in fact play an active role in the early church which was the origin of the Christian church.

Now, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death, Peter must have been going through an exceptionally hard time, trying to forgive himself for betraying his friend and Master Jesus Christ in the hours prior to His crucifixion. This is evident from the following recorded conversation:

John 21:14-17 AMP This was now the third time that Jesus revealed Himself (appeared, was manifest) to the disciples after He had risen from the dead. (15) When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do--with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs. (16) Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep. (17) He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.

Jesus' words here were not only intended to sooth the conscience of Peter as some preachers would have it, who is jesus  neither were they only for impressing unto Peter that Jesus knew that he had betrayed his Master 3 times.

Jesus was instructing the founder of His church that he would have to lead the disciples and members of the church of the future in a specific way. The Amplified Bible expresses the leadership command in verse 16 beautifully as "Shepherd My sheep".

The Israelites were sheep farmers and knew exactly what the job of a shepherd entailed. Thus Jesus did not have to give a detailed explanation of what he meant. Any person who was employed by a farmer to 'shepherd my sheep' would immediately know what the job entailed. It was really not necessary to tell Peter to 'walk in front of the sheep' and to 'look after their (spiritual) needs', and 'protect them against the enemy' and so forth.

Jesus had previously given the disciples a description of how His leadership style corresponded with the task of a shepherd. (John chapter 10) Now He only had to say 'Shepherd My sheep' and Peter knew what He was talking about, as did everyone with him. These three commands, such as to 'Shepherd My sheep' were however not meant for Peter only, but for everyone that would take care of the flock of Jesus throughout the ages.

The flock of Jesus is a spiritual flock that consists of the born-again children of God. Jesus' spiritual flock has to be led according to Jesus' leadership style. The leadership style of Jesus is the specialist area of the author, which he calls True Shepherd Leadership.