• When one of Jesus’ most loyal disciples, Peter, denied knowing him three times in public shortly before the crucifixion, Jesus didn’t take offense like many would have. He knew Peter’s heart, so rather than taking offense immediately he waited till the right moment came.
• Jesus instead sets out to restore him. Peter, strengthened by Jesus’ confidence in him, affirms his love for Jesus thrice(the same amount of times he denied him). Jesus would have obviously been hurt, because Peter was one of the closest disciples he had during his sojourn on earth. But Jesus, not being an impulsive leader, calmly talks it out with Peter and brings about a productive result.
• Jesus showed love and mercy. Many leaders believe that leadership often involves being hardline, and he didn’t look for opportunities to be high-handed, indulging in abuse of power. Jesus showed that true leaders don’t abandon people after one failure, but invest in their recovery. Because of Christ’s trust in Peter, Peter eventually died for his Lord proving his loyalty till his last breath.
• Jesus led, but didn’t coerce. That is also the mark of a genuinely admirable leader.
It’s sometimes staggering to think that someone who lived on the earth more than 2000 years ago could give us leadership lessons now and be relevant even today. But that’s how awesome a leader Jesus was.