Last week we learnt that being unpredictable creates a sense of mystery around a person. When a person is unpredictable, no one can tell what he is going to do next. Everyone waits with great interest to find out the next move of a leader who is unpredictable. Many pastors have the anointing on their lives cancelled by familiarity. This is because everyone knows what they are going to do next. When your every move is unpredictable, people tend to lose interest in you and are not likely to follow you for a very long time. People long to be surprised and be led to the next exciting thing. A successful leader, who is unpredictable sometimes, is able to sustain interest in his following. Below are some examples of how Jesus portrayed that he was a master at being unpredictable.
1. Jesus Christ was unpredictable when He was invited to the feast. At one point, everyone thought He would come. At another time He said He would not come. In the end, He went to the feast, but not openly or as expected. Notice how Jesus was wise as a serpent using the key of unpredictability.
Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.
Then Jesus said unto them, my time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. But When His Brethren Were Gone Up, Then Went He Also Up Unto The Feast, Not Openly, but as it were in secret.
John 7:2-10
2. Jesus used the key of unpredictability in deciding where He would preach. People thought He would stay in town but He decided to go to the next village.
And when they had found him, they said unto him, all men seek for thee. And he said unto them, let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Mark 1:37-38
3. Jesus used the key of unpredictability in preaching. Everyone thought He would say something nice to make even more crowds come to Him. He suddenly told them to drink His blood and eat His flesh and the crowds left Him.
And he said, therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
John 6:65-66
4. Jesus used the key of unpredictability when He was at the peak of His ministry. Instead of continuing His ministry on earth, He decided to terminate it after three years and hand things over to the Comforter.
5. Jesus used the key of unpredictability in His healing ministry. It was difficult to tell what strategy He was going to use to minister to the next sick person. Sometimes He would lay hands on them. On others He would spit into sand. At other times He would just speak. At times He would heal everybody and at other times He would heal only one person.
6. Jesus used the key of unpredictability in relation to eating and fasting. There were times everyone expected He and His disciples to fast. But they would eat. He fasted so much at the beginning of His ministry that only Moses could be compared with Him. He ate so much at other times that He was criticised for being a glutton.
7. Jesus used the key of unpredictability in His relationships. At times He only related with His disciples. At other times he moved around with the rich, famous and the corrupt. Everyone was shocked when He went to Zacchaeus’ house. Others were offended when He allowed Mary to wipe His feet with her hair. From the foregoing, we can see that it is good for a leader to be unpredictable at times. This trait can help you to be a good leader. The people you lead need enough information to work with. Make sure they have that. However, remember that a leader ought to be a step ahead all the time. That is why you are a leader!
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By Dag Heward-Mills