Passing It On: Growing Your Future Leaders (24 page)

One member of my founding team was my college friend Richard with whom I shared my life’s vision and passion for the world
back in 1974. He not only encouraged me at that time, but also returned to my hometown after we finished our post-graduate
studies, and he left his job with the Bahamas government to come join me in carrying out my vision. He also married my wife’s
sister, and thus we became “brothers” in two ways.

During the first ten years we spent developing the organization, he served in every capacity that I asked of him and submitted
his gifts, talents, ambition, and personal future to the vision I had shared. I knew he not only loved
my vision, but also loved me personally. Therefore, it was not difficult for me to identify him as the successor to the leadership
position. We love each other on two levels, as colleagues and as family. I trust him with everything that I carry in my spirit
and in my heart because his love is
for me
. He has loved everything that I have done and everything we continue to do in the organization. I have no hesitation in entrusting
everything I have built into his hands. I know he will protect it, preserve it, and further develop it. It is his. He loves
it as much as I love it.

Furthermore, I chose him because he was with me through my years of doubt, when the community misunderstood me and misunderstood
what we wanted to accomplish. He stayed with me when I was publically criticized, maligned, and attacked in the media. I chose
him because he never competed with me, nor expressed a spirit of jealousy or distrust. I chose him because he was willing
to stand with me when everyone stood against me. He defended me in private and in public. I chose him because he was never
interested in taking my position, my influence, my success, or my achievements. I chose him because all he wanted was for
me to be successful.

I chose him because he was the personification of one who loves
me
, not merely my vision, my gift, or my power. When times called for it, he has been willing to protect and defend me at his
own expense, and I trust that he would be willing to die for me or take a risk for my benefit. I have seen him sacrifice for
and invest in our organization. He has often set aside his own ambitions, priorities, needs, or cares for my sake.

In my experience, he never coveted my gift or lusted for what I have. He never coveted or usurped my authority or criticized
me in way that implied he was wiser than I was. He never attempted to take credit that was due me, never attempted to run
off with any of my responsibilities, including the people. He was the obvious choice for me to mentor to become my successor.
I have watched him grow into a powerful and outstanding leader. This is the joy of effective mentorship. At this stage, what
I do in the organization is to provide long-term, visionary guidance and international networking. He provides the leadership
on a daily basis.

As I mentioned previously, when leaders consider the prospect of succession for their organizations, ministries, and family
businesses, it is a common temptation to establish criteria that are limited to talent, education, skills, experience, and
academic achievements. That may seem reasonable. However, as I also stated before, in many cases this approach has resulted
in great conflict, disappointment, and even organizational failure. After many years of observation, interaction, and personal
research, I have concluded that these criteria do not take into account the best and most-effective prerequisite for successful
succession.

My careful study of historical cases of successful succession—the Hebrew deliverer, Moses, and his aide Joshua; the prophet
Elijah and his protégé Elisha; the great king of Israel David and his son Solomon; and ultimately Jesus Christ and His student
Simon Peter—indicates that the most important prerequisite is love. Ask the ultimate question: Does this potential successor
love
me
? When Christ had to decide who could carry on His ministry, Peter stood out above the others, a rock in times of uncertainty
and hardship. Why Peter? The reasons might not be obvious to us. You will recall that he was a maverick.

At their first meeting, even he thought himself unfit among those Jesus had chosen.

Luke 5:8
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

From time to time, he pestered Jesus with questions.

John 21:21
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Initially, he refused to have his feet washed.

John 13:8
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

Peter challenged Jesus on why He had to die, disputing the necessity of it.

Matthew 16:22
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Peter was hotheaded. Remember, he was the one who cut off the servant’s ear.

John 18:10–11
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s
name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

Peter, as you know, even denied he knew Jesus in His hour of need—and not once, but three times.

Luke 22:54–62
Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. But when
they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl
saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it.
“Woman, I don’t know him,”
he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!”
Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied,
“Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word
the Lord had spoken to him:
“Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”
And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter feels he has let Jesus down and weeps in shame.

All these things that seem to show Peter’s failings are true, but look again. Try to see Peter through the eyes of Jesus.
Take a fresh look at how Peter’s denial of Jesus reveals his steadfast love and loyalty to his mentor. Most of
you probably learned to see his denial as a failure or betrayal. It is a story parents and teachers tell small children. “Peter
denied Christ three times!” They warn young people sternly never to disown the Lord. Congregations recite this passage without
fail every Easter, and they hear it as an indictment of weakness and shame. They vow not to be like Peter. They have learned
and believed all their lives, as I did, that Peter did a bad thing by denying Jesus, but nobody ever emphasizes
his love
.

Take another look. Peter had followed the soldiers and risked hanging around to be near Jesus. He even lingered when it was
clear his cover was blown. The real cowards had scattered as soon as the soldiers showed up to grab Jesus. Peter stayed within
sight of Jesus so he could monitor what His accusers were doing to Him. The Scripture reveals that he was so close that Jesus
could see him as the ordeal unfolded.

If Peter had not denied being who he was, a friend and student of this radical, doomed rebel on trial, the guards could have
thrown Peter out of the courtyard, or worse. Peter proved on that night, as he had many times before, that he loved Jesus.
That is why Christ left him in charge of His global vision of establishing the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, appointing him
at the final meeting with the disciples, postresurrection.

John 21:15–17
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes,
Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly
love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said
to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said,
“Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

Joshua had risen to Moses’ defense when he thought others were copying
him and stealing his thunder, as we learned in Numbers 11:26–30. Note Moses’ response to Joshua: “Are you jealous
for my sake
?” (v. 29). Joshua was jealous “for” Moses, not “of” Moses. Joshua desired to protect Moses’ position and influence.

Just as Joshua defended Moses, Peter had jumped at the chance to protect Jesus, even resorting to a violent act when he cut
off the servant’s ear. Peter took risks. He was willing to protect and defend Jesus at his own expense. He was willing to
hang around in enemy territory where he might be recognized and taken into custody along with his rebel teacher. Peter must
have been willing to die for his teacher because his actions could have cost him his life.

I have been taught all my life that when Peter denied Jesus it was wrong. That is how most of us have learned to see this
episode in Jesus’ life, but we can look at the context: Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying at the heaviest moment
of His life. He was about to take on His ultimate assignment. Jesus knows this is His last moment, and He feels the weight
of it. He tells the disciples in so many words, “You guys stay awake because something is going to happen tonight. Something
is coming down.” He is struggling with His assignment.

The soldiers show up with Judas. Most of His disciples run. Eleven had been there with Him, and they were supposed to be His
best friends. Yet in the midst of all those soldiers with their daggers, swords, spears, and shields, only one—Peter—pulled
out his sword and was ready to take them on. Where is John whom Jesus loves so much? Where is James who is so powerfully attached
to Him? Where is Bartholomew? Where is Jonas? Where are all the others? Where is their loyalty? Why have they abandoned their
great teacher now? Only one was willing to die for Jesus. Only one would have taken on an entire guard, and Christ allowed
him to swing the sword to cut the ear off one of the attackers.

Christ could have stopped Peter before he wounded Malchus, but I see this as a test. Jesus allowed it to happen to see who
loved Him best. Only after Peter struck did Jesus tell His defender to put away the weapon, and He healed Malchus on the spot.

Envision the time from this Gethsemane moment to the last meeting where Peter is named as the successor (John 21:15–17 as
we read earlier in this chapter) as a period of transition. It began when Peter pulled that sword
out. With that act, in essence, Peter is saying, “Before you guys take my boss, you have to take me.” This is the highest
qualification for succession. Peter was willing to die, willing to sacrifice.

In effect, Peter gave his life for Jesus before Jesus gave His life for Peter. Jesus allowed him to do it. Jesus had the power
to stop the assault, but He let it run its course. He was testing. “I have eleven guys here with me. Let’s see who will make
a move to protect me.”

The only one who did was Peter. Jesus already knew it would be Peter, and Jesus had the power to stop Peter’s attack, but
He wanted to prove something. When Jesus told Peter to put away the sword, He was saying, “Okay. You qualify. You love me.
You are the one.”

Jesus demonstrated His power by undoing the damage Peter did. Afterward, as Luke told it, Jesus fixed the servant’s ear as
if to say, “Thank you very much, Peter, but we’ll just pick this ear up here and put it back on, now that you have made your
point and passed my test.”

Luke 22:51
But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

If Jesus could do that, surely He had the power to prevent the act.

Later, when Peter denied Jesus, it did nothing to diminish his role as successor. He had proven his love. Since Christ had
predicted the denial, Jesus probably was glad it happened. Jesus essentially told him in advance, “Make sure you deny me.
By the way, you know, when you do, the rooster will give me the signal.” In other words, Jesus implies, “You have to deny
me. It is necessary. If you do not deny me, the building of my church will not happen.”

When Jesus surrendered to the soldiers, they put Him in chains, tied Him up, and took Him away for a late-night trial. Matthew’s
account of these events underscores Peter’s courage and determination.

Matthew 26:56–58
“But this has all taken place that the writings
of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples deserted him and fled
. Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.
But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards
to see the outcome
.

If someone we love is accused of a crime, or is a victim of one, we want to be in the courtroom for the trial “to see the
outcome.” If our loved one is on trial, we want to be sure the authorities treat him or her fairly. Peter wanted to know Jesus’
fate.

Peter remained as close as he could, alone in a hostile environment. John 18:15 says that another, unnamed disciple had followed
with Peter and was able to go to the inner courtyard with Jesus because the high priest knew that disciple. Later, this colleague
arranged for Peter to get in too.