Jesus gave this teaching because His disciples were arguing about who would be greatest. His answer was radical: the path to greatness runs through service.
John 13 shows what this looks like practically. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus — knowing full well who He was — got on His knees and washed His disciples' feet. Then He told them to do the same.
Servant leadership is not weakness. It's about the orientation of your leadership: are you leveraging your position for your benefit, or for the benefit of those you lead?
The practical test: Do your team members grow under your leadership? Do they feel genuinely valued? Are you removing obstacles for them, or adding to their burdens?