September 7,
2026
When does a relationship move from being asked to being told?
I got a call two weeks back from a mentor, friend, and, on
several occasions, a client to me when I was working for an advertising agency –
and even when I was self-employed, offering marketing and educational program
consulting services, mentoring, and training.
A relationship that goes back 22 years – breaking bread
after a meeting – Kadak Roti, Raita, and Chicken Kadai each time, with an occasional
diversion to Chinese, which the professor fancies, but not I. It has nothing to
do with the border dispute along the Line of Control and skirmishes in the Galwan
River Valley. Did not like the Ajinomoto in it, I guess.
The professor is 80 years old, still active and just as
alert, a Gen Z when it comes to social media, with reels on Instagram and posts
on Facebook (which sounds dated).
The professor called to tell me to run a full-day, 4-session
workshop for their faculty in three weeks. I was silent for a bit. My mind was resisting
the idea and the stress. It was inconceivable for me to conceive and execute a
full-day program in such a short time.
He said, “I know you can do it”. That was it.
In two weeks, I designed the Workshop content and mechanics.
I sent the proposal to the professor and workshop coordinator at the
institution, which included the agenda for the program, the pre-read material
for the participants, a survey questionnaire to administer to participants, and
the report to segment the participants into groups for an interactive workshop
of exercises, discussion, peer evaluation, etc.
The professor knew my capabilities; more importantly, my
potential. As a leader of men, he knew how to motivate – stretch goals being
one that summons latent energy and potential.
A leader’s signal characteristic is to command and get work
done. It starts with being a follower who got things done, motivating others to
join in the task. To get it done on time and on budget. The mental muscles developed
in the process lead to taking on greater challenges to helm the institution in
time.
Jesus was such a leader. His mentor was God the Father and
the Holy Spirit – a partner in the mission of the Trinity. Jesus practised servant leadership. He did not
ask his apostles and disciples what He himself had not done or would do.
Jesus did not ask. He told. “Follow me”.
And they did. Nathanael, alias Barthomew, had his doubts;
and Thomas too after the resurrection. He was not present in the room when Jesus
appeared to his fellow apostles. In fact, everyone who was there at the Garden
of Gethsemane fled when the soldiers arrested and hand-roped Jesus, except John,
who accompanied Jesus. Peter, the swashbuckling swordsman who cut off Malchus,
the High Priest's servant's ear, now preferred anonymity to celebrityhood enjoyed
with the miracle-performing Jesus. The purported Messiah who was to save Israel
was now being marched as a common criminal for judgment and punishment.
The turmoil in Peter’s mind when a storm pulverised the boat,
with Jesus unperturbed, asleep in the stern on a cushion, made the disciples cry
out – more likely Peter - “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mk
4:35-41) seemed to pale in Peter’s mind witnessing a catastrophic change of
event – the person he declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the
living God.” (Mt 16:16) was recast in his mind as an ordinary man, meekly
following the soldiers, hands tied, to complete Jesus’ submission to them.
The disciples forgot the catch of fish. “Go away from me,
Lord; I am a sinful man!” said Simon Peter (Lk 5:8). They had forgotten. ‘He
got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then
the wind died down, and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why
are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and
asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
(Mk 4:39-41)
Such were the people Jesus told: ‘Follow me’. A gargantuan
error of judgment, it would seem. What
in heaven did Jesus see in these hand-to-mouth, subsistence-level fishermen –
and the one who wanted a better life, Matthew, became a tax collector to fleece
his own?
Despite their utter failure to be there for Him, He was
there for them and with them after the resurrection. He did not abandon them
and found a new group of apostles. He knew the men they could be. Not who they were
presently.
He commanded them one last time. He said to them, “Go
into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever
believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned. And these signs will accompany those who
believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in
new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands;
and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will
place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mk
16: 15-18)
The Book of Acts and the Epistles testify to what these mere
men did, so that today over a billion people in this tumultuous world are practising
Christians.
-
Mathew Anthony
