The Shepherd and His Staff. Theodore Mistra

equals, for a special leadership role and then shaped him during their years together. According to theological dictionaries, the word translated as “first” in Matthew 10:2—“first, Simon (who is called Peter)”—is actually the Greek term protos. The reference signifies the first in rank or the chief. Peter embodies how the Lord authors a leader among leaders.

      At the end of his time on earth, after a miraculous catch of fish from the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus provided Peter with the ultimate marching orders for leadership purposes. Despite Peter’s intense fishing background and the disciples’ initial call to become “fishers of men,” Jesus used a different model—a shepherd. John, another key leader even closer to Jesus than Peter was, provided an eyewitness account.

      After three years of intensive leadership teaching and training, when Jesus entrusted Peter with his final encouragement and instructions, it all came down to one thing. He repeated the message so there could be no mistake—“Feed my lambs.” “Take care of my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” In the end, the original Peter Principle is to “be a shepherd.”

      Jesus concluded with the exhortation “Follow me!” It was precisely the same call he issued to Peter by the Sea of Galilee at the outset. In other words, Jesus brought Peter full circle while making him a leader in his own image. The rugged fisherman had been transformed into a shepherd. He was also sent off to teach other leaders how to be shepherds and transform the world.

      Jesus used the shepherd concept two millennia ago to cut across professional, economic, political and social boundaries at personal, one-on-one and group levels. The shepherd concept, however, was not limited to Jesus and his relationship with Peter. Nor was it confined to a particular time, place or circumstance.

      From the beginning, God has used and allowed a series of approaches to the administration, leadership and management of people and their affairs. The historical sequence ranges from direct relationship with human beings to a series of intermediate organizational structures, involving, at various biblical times, priests, prophets, judges and kings. Sometimes God initiated his own plan, and sometimes he responded to the passionate desires and relentless appeals of his people.

      Modern counterparts also include monarchies and extend from democracies to dictatorships, with everything (or nothing) in between. In each instance, there have been both good and bad examples of a given form of governance and of the people who serve as leaders within it. Unfortunately, all too often the examples have been negative.

      Regardless of environment, the shepherd concept is a common denominator, appearing as a current running beneath the course of history. After the exodus from Egypt, Moses (a shepherd), on the advice of Jethro (whose daughters were shepherds), organized his nation into groups and a structure of units over which individuals called judges were placed. Judges served as principal leaders of the people from the time of Joshua’s death to the reign of Saul, Israel’s first king. David, the shepherd king who was a man after God’s own heart, succeeded Saul.

      Since the days of Abel, the son of Adam and Eve, the shepherd has been used in instrumental ways. The entire Bible is rich with illustrations. Abraham, Rachel, Joseph, Jethro’s daughters, Moses, Midian’s daughters and David were all shepherds. Even Jesus himself is referred to as one.

      The role of shepherd transcends time, place and circumstance. It also cuts across all styles of management, all types of organizational structures and systems, all positions of civil and religious authority and all cultural settings. God has always used leaders and considered them to be shepherds in every conceivable situation. He’s using them now. And he always will.

      Shepherd leadership, the original Peter Principle, is relevant at personal, one-on-one, team and organizational levels of leadership. In our current postmodern world, where technology and intellectual property drive business and industry, a shepherd is called to make a difference, to follow a new path to transforming the world.

      Two Key Principles of Shepherd Leadership

      God (the Father) has used the shepherd throughout history. He speaks of himself as a shepherd and sees people in leadership positions as shepherds. His shepherding perspective applies whether a given leader is in a position of public or private authority, in a rural or urban setting, or at the local or national level.

      Jesus (the Son) was the ultimate role model for leadership. His consistent actions and explicit instructions were clear and compelling. He taught and trained Peter, his number-one protégé, and the rest of his closest followers to be like shepherds for leadership purposes. The shepherd model stems from two key principles: (1) be a good shepherd and (2) develop other shepherd leaders.