When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’ (Mark 10: 41-45)

Jesus makes a transition from rulers (archo) to great ones (megas) to great among you to first (protos) among you. The issue for Jesus is not command but encouragement. The servant leader may initiate but does not seek to control.

Among the Gentiles rule is characterized by katexousiazo. This is not, as in the translation above, necessarily to behave as a tyrant. But it is a form of top-down, positional authority.

Among those following Jesus to be first is to be a servant (diakonos) and a slave (doulos). Both imply deferance to God's intention. Each of us are unique expressions of God. The task of the servant leader is to support and encourage each authentic expression.