“After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, ‘Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.’” —John 13:12-15 (NLT)
As I write this, two thoughts strike me.
First, how quickly the first quarter of this year has flown by. It seems like just yesterday—on the first Sunday of 2025—Rabbi Ilana Goldhaber-Gordon from Temple Beth Jacob delivered a powerful message that helped launch our annual theme at NBCC: Be A Blessing! Temple Beth Jacob is the wonderful synagogue that houses the Redwood City campus of our diverse and vibrant Christian community. Rabbi Ilana’s message continues to echo in my heart.
Today, as I type these words, we are just 2 days away from Holy Week, which begins on April 13th. Shocking! And, incredibly, we at NBCC are already three months into our 11th year as a church community. Where has the time gone?
My second realization is this:
countless followers of Jesus quietly fill boardrooms, E-suites, corporate offices, classrooms, nonprofits, and government spaces across the country.
They rarely wear their faith on their sleeves—but their leadership is often shaped by Christian values. In doing so,they impact their environments in quiet but powerful ways.
It’s a beautiful reminder that faith—particularly the teachings of Jesus—still shapes our world for the better. Nestled within the sacred days of Holy Week is a principle that I believe speaks directly to the challenges and opportunities of leadership today.
A Towel, Not a Title
Just hours before His arrest and crucifixion—and moments before sharing the Passover meal—Jesus did something shocking. As recorded by the disciple John:
“He got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” —John 13:4-5 (NLT)
This act was far more than symbolic. It was disruptive. In a world that prizes hierarchy, status, and control, Jesus—whom His disciples rightly called “Lord and Teacher”—chose to serve in the most humbling way possible.
Adaptive Leadership: A Modern Echo
In recent years, a concept called Adaptive Leadership has gained traction in the business and tech worlds. Thinkers like Olaf Groth describe it as a model for leading through rapid change and uncertainty—especially when there are no easy answers.
It encourages leaders to:
- Stop pretending to have all the answers and instead ask the right questions
- Listen to others, especially those who think differently
- Help their teams adjust, even when it means letting go of long-held traditions
- Care about people, not just solving problems
That last one—caring about people—is the heart of it all. It’s also the heart of the foot-washing moment.
Jesus, arguably the greatest leader the world has ever known—followed by billions while inspiring service and compassion across the globe— taught that the purpose of
leadership is not power but people.
Name any business—an airport, a pharmaceutical company, a university, or an athletic team—and its success ultimately depends on how well it serves people. The best of these efforts, especially in a polarized and unpredictable world, recognize this truth: we must keep learning, adjusting, and loving across differences.
Love Is the Strategy
Jesus teaches us that the most valuable asset in any enterprise can be captured in two words: relationships and love.
The biblical word for love is agape—a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional, and other-centered love that is the opposite of transactional. Agape overflows with grace and forgiveness, creating an environment where people feel safe to make mistakes, learn, and grow together.
This kind of love isn’t soft. It’s strong enough to serve, wise enough to adapt, and bold enough to unite across political, cultural, and ideological divides.
One Question That Changes Everything
Remarkably, we are all participants in one primary business: The Enterprise of Sustaining and Expanding Humanity. Today, that enterprise is under threat. Widespread polarization, toxic labeling, and an age of unchecked self-centeredness have placed the very fabric of human connection at risk—especially across the Western world. The question is no longer whether we agree on everything. It’s whether we will choose to care, serve, and love in ways that make survival and flourishing possible for all.
In times like these, one question matters more than ever—no matter how high your rank, title, or influence: Who am I serving—and how can I serve them better?
To borrow and modify the timeless words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
We will either adapt and learn to live together as brothers and sisters— or perish together as fools.
Let us choose wisely.
As the old song says: “Let there be peace on earth—and let it begin with me.”
This Holy Week, may we remember: Leadership is not just about strategy—it’s about service. Not just about progress—but about people. And not just about success—but about love.
.svg)
