Sometimes we work hard to be original. We want to say something new. We want to be creative and innovative. We want to make our mark.

Sometimes the best thing to be is a copy. We repeat what we’ve heard. We teach what we’ve learned. We prove by our lives that it works.

In Matthew 20, Peter is one of ten disciples who is complaining. Mrs. Zebedee (James and John’s mom) has asked if her sons could sit next to Jesus when he gets his kingdom. The ten go ballistic (or would have if ballistics were a science at the time). Jesus responds by calling all twelve together and describing what it means to be a leader, Jesus-style.

Jesus makes a couple clear points:

1. don’t take your position as an excuse to act like a lord.

2. Instead, act like a servant.

And then Jesus heads for Jerusalem and his death.

So did his words click for anyone? Is there any evidence that anyone heard him that day?

Yes indeed, clear evidence.

Peter writes a couple of letters that end up in the Bible. In the first one, he starts talking to leaders. He says, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. Not greedy for money but eager to serve; not lording over those entrusted to you but being examples to the flock.”

Years later, imprisionments and beatings later, leadership squabbles and values challenges later, when he talks about leadership, Peter is distinctly unoriginal.

I suppose it might have to do with how soon after Peter heard those words from Jesus that Peter watched Jesus die. For him. And forgive him. And rise again.

“Here’s what Jesus said,” Peter writes, “it works.”