Times of national crisis can bring out the best in all of us

Times of national crisis have the capacity to draw us together, they can bring out the best from deep within our characters.

The best kind of leader is one who is focused on servant leadership.

There are many in our city who are willing to go to the front line – to lay down their lives on behalf of others. Those such as medical staff, carers or cleaners know the risks they are taking with their personal health to provide for the emergency needs of others.

As our Prime Minister was admitted to intensive care this week The Sun newspaper carried the headline “He stayed at work for you... now pray at home for him.”

More than simply sending good wishes, this was a call for our nation to pray.

Boris has made sacrifices to lead at this time. He didn’t call a nationwide lockdown for his personal glory or gain – he did it for the good of our people and the NHS.

The best kind of leadership is sacrificial, it focuses upon serving others.

The ultimate expression of this kind of leadership is found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This article is published in the gap between Good Friday and Easter Sunday when Christians remember how Jesus bridged the gap between humans and God.

He sacrificed His life to subsume the brokenness and sin of this world (Good Friday), so that you and I may enter into deep friendship with God (the celebration of Easter).

The message of the cross, of Easter, is the most powerful address any leader has ever made to the nations of the world.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16).

May each of us serve one another with hope in these troubled times.

The Reverend Nick Allan is minister of The Well Church, Ecclesall Road, Sharrow. For daily livestreams of prayer and Sunday services visit wellsheffield.com