Leadership Friction Principle

Matthew 26 is a dark moment in a great leader's life, but I believe it sheds light on an important leadership principle. Here is a quick summary.

Matthew 26:31-74 (summary)
Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:" 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered...
...
Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will...
...
Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times...
...
But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you."
And all the other disciples said the same.

...Then all the disciples deserted him and fled...
...But Peter followed...
...But he denied it before them all...

...He denied it again, with an oath...
...Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!


Peter says his loyalty statement first. The other disciples follow suite and say the same thing. Peter follows Jesus. The other disciples desert Jesus and flee. Peter denies Jesus. The other disciples...well they couldn't because they were not even there.
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Leadership Friction Principle:
  • Doing what no one else would (following Jesus) put Peter in a position to make a mistake (denying Jesus) that no one else could.
But this friction goes both ways...
  • Doing what no one else would (stood to speak the truth of Jesus in Jerusalem) put Peter in a position to experience incredible results (3,000 saved) that no one else could.
As a leader you have the opportunity to go first, to be the first...in both victory and failure.
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Maybe this leadership friction is an example of, "To whom much is given much is required..." Lead on!