A Fox, a Bin… and the Leader We Need

During the recent UK by-election for Makerfield, Andy Burnham found himself competing with candidates dressed as a fox and even a bin.  It’s thought he may become the new labour leader and Prime Minister.

It does make you wonder how someone dressed up as a fox or a bin can seriously aspire to lead. 

Yet recent events remind us that appearances can be deceptive. Respectable clothes—or even a respectable reputation—are no guarantee of good character. The recent conviction of Jeffrey Donaldson is a sobering reminder that outward appearances don’t necessarily make someone fit to lead.

So what does make a good leader?

When Stevo Pendarovski was president of North Macedonia he made the headlines for all the right reasons.  After learning of an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome being bullied, he left the heights of his villa to come and take her hand and walk her to school. By taking Embla Ademi’s hand, he made a public statement that every person has dignity and deserves to be valued and included.

There’s something compelling about a leader who acts like that.  We can never know the man’s heart, but it seemed to show a very genuine concern for the people he led—a willingness to roll up his sleeves and take action.

Sadly, leaders like that are rare, and they seldom remain in office for long. President Pendarovski’s term ended in 2024.  Yet, his actions point beyond themselves. They remind us of the One who left not simply a presidential villa but the riches of heaven itself.  The true servant leader didn’t just change surroundings, and He didn’t put on a fancy costume, but put on flesh to identify with us.  He came to serve us.

This leader never lived in a grand palace, often had nowhere to lay his head, but he did more than just roll up his sleeves.  He gave of himself time and again, often going out of his way for those with extra needs.  You’d have thought that people would have been delighted with his servant leadership.  But after just 3 years of public ministry, the people declared “we don’t want this man to rule over us”.  They would rather see a rioter released and this man face the death penalty.

Was this another tragic end to a short political career? No! His life wasn’t taken from Him, He gave it for us!  He didn’t come just to hold our hands, but to die in our place for all the times we’ve acted as if there were no God in heaven.  Here is the leader we need! A leader of flawless perfect integrity who gave himself to serve others. 

His reign didn’t end in scandal, or losing an election, not even death was the end, for he rose from the dead never to die again.  Even now He is reigning, and those who turn to Him discover He is exactly the leader that we need.