After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (Jn. 20:19-21). These words hold importance for leaders delegating some of their responsibilities to others.
The Resurrected Jesus Gives Us an Example for Delegation
1) Jesus acknowledged that it was the Father who sent Him. He was here doing the Father’s work, under His authority (Jn. 10:37-38; 14:10-11).
We too have been given authority and power from God to do the work He’s given us to do. It’s not “our” work we’re asking people to do but “His”. That should affect our perspective when delegating. And, it should impact those to whom we’re delegating as well.
2) Jesus sent the disciples, knowing that they too would experience troubles in this world as He did. Just as Jesus relied on God’s power to raise Him from the dead, so He sent out the disciples with the power needed to accomplish what He asked them to do.
To this end, we should encourage people to rely on God’s power and pray for those we enlist similar to Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. — “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms …” (Eph. 1:18-20)
Point People to Jesus Who Was Raised from the Dead for Power to Do the Task
Before Jesus commissioned the disciples, saying, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (Jn. 20:21), “he showed them his hands and side” (Jn. 20:20). It was important they knew who was sending them. As the Resurrected Jesus, He had power and authority over sin, death, and the devil. Nothing would be impossible.
With that understanding comes peace and perspective. To do God’s work, people need to be empowered. Just as Jesus relied on a power outside of Himself to raise Him from the dead, so we too must encourage those to whom we delegate to rely on power to serve outside of themselves and beyond any support we could offer. We, as leaders, don’t actually impart the power but point to the Lord who does. He provides many means through which He empowers us. Check out the Steering the Church Toward God’s Power Leadership Guide.
For More, Go To: Resources about Resurrection Power
All Posts about Delegation:
- What Does Delegation Have to do with Love?
- Delegation Done Purposefully
- Basis for Delegating
- Lessons about Delegation from Jesus
- Christ-like Goal in Delegating
- What If Jesus Hadn’t Delegated?
- Only God Truly Empowers
- Delegation Influenced by the Gospel
- Delegation Influenced by Grace
- Leaders’ Spiritual Gifting May Affect Delegating
- Who to Delegate to Based on Spiritual Gifts
- Avoiding Pitfalls of Delegation
- Delegation Enveloped in Prayer
- Delegation Because of the Resurrected Jesus
- Realistically View Delegation
- Delegation Protected in the Name of the Lord
- Delegation Learned Through the Word
- Leaders Who are Good Stewards Tend to Delegate More
- Delegation Propelled by the Holy Spirit