Most political leaders do not see the quest for an office as giving up something but of acquiring something more. They climb up and Jesus climbed down. They love being exalted; Jesus came to be humiliated. He taught that the greatest would become the least, and the first would become the last. The leaders of the earth may do it to become rich, but Jesus emptied Himself and became poor. They crave worldwide renown; Jesus restricted Himself to a small country, growing up in a despised race. They want a godlike position; Jesus abandoned a position to become less than a slave. Jesus refused the elite route and identified with common folks. It matters which of the two we imitate.
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 NASB)
