Jake WaltonJanuary 18, 2019

The Best Man the World Could Ever Get

Jake WaltonJanuary 18, 2019

A Gillette commercial just came out

that created A LOT of controversy about what a man actually is and how he ought to behave. In short, I liked it because it actually creates questions that MUST be answered in our country and the world we live in. If it is true that men are not born, they are made, then what is the model that we should follow to start “making” these boys into men?

Culture often teaches us that a man is someone who is macho, aggressive, and proud of their manhood. They strive to have the biggest muscles, nicest cars, best looks, and the most money. If a man has none of these things, then it is already known he is inferior to those that do—leaving them in confusion for lack of identity and purpose.

Well, I have good news. The manliest Man who ever lived is not Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, John Wayne, or Vin Diesel. The manliest Man who ever lived was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The model we must look to is not Hollywood, culture, or a shaving commercial; the model we are to follow is the inspired Word of God.

The attributes of a man could be an extremely long list, but using the example of Christ’s life, let me give you TWO behaviors of a true biblical man.

1. TOUGH

It might seem contradicting to all that I just said but I wanted to start with this one on purpose. I observe this generation of men and my own generation as extremely weak and soft individuals. Our resilience and resolve to stand up against trials and tribulations is non-existent. We are offended easily if someone says something that hurts our feelings. We don’t seek the path that is difficult and challenging; we love and enjoy the easy route. The shortcut. Why should we inconvenience ourselves when there is a much easier road we could take?

I am so grateful and eternally thankful that that was not the mindset of Jesus when His body was being beaten and ripped apart by men no better than you or I. I am so glad that when He saw Calvary’s hill, He didn’t change His mind because it looked too steep to climb with that cross on His shoulder. The Bible mentions NOT one tear that was shed by Jesus while He was being tortured to death for the sins of the world. (John 19) He was as tougher than any man who’s ever lived, died, or rose again.

Real men don’t complain about their circumstances. They don’t seek the easiest road. They don’t get easily offended because they live in a glass house of sensitive emotions.

Real men are tough because they sacrifice their comfort and convenience for the good of others. So, the next time the road ahead seems hard and overbearing. Don’t avoid it; embrace it. And thank God for the reminder that Jesus didn’t die so we could merely exist in comfort but so we could live and struggle for His glory and His kingdom.

When the going gets tough, the tough stand up and fight like the men God created them to be.

2. TENDER

Wait a second, so my Savior was beaten, mocked, and crucified for no reason whatsoever. He didn’t shed one tear and give up when it was hard but now, you’re telling me to be TENDER and gentle?

That is correct; I most certainly am.

In John chapter 11, there is a man named Lazarus who is ill. Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha, who have a history with Jesus, which you can read about in Luke chapter 10. Mary and Martha send word to the Lord in John 11:3, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” Jesus, the whole time, knows that Lazarus is going to die, and He is going to raise him up from the dead. When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days, and many people had gathered to “console” Mary and Martha because of their loss. When the sisters come into Jesus’ presence, they are hurting deeply. Mary says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus KNOWS He is about to raise a dead man named Lazarus back to life again and all those present will be amazed on God’s power. But even in light of Jesus knowing what He is about to do, I found something incredibly powerful about the kind of man Jesus was.

Starting in verse 33, it says, “When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” JESUS WEPT.”

Why was He weeping? Why would he shed tears over a dead man he was about to bring back to life?

Do you want to know why? Because Jesus Christ, the manliest man to ever live had the deepest and purest compassion and love for people. His friends were weeping and hurting and because they were hurting, He, the Savior of the world was hurting. Oh, what a gentle heart Jesus had for others!

Christ was selfless. He was not in this world to care first for His own needs but for the needs of others. Men, Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” What did Christ do for the church? He died for it. His bride, the church, you, and me as followers of Christ. We are not lovely; we are wretched, selfish, self-absorbed sinners who, in our best days, deserve hell and damnation.

Ephesians 2:4 says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…”

A man, a true man, is a gentleman. He stands up for those who have no voice. He sacrifices for those who don’t deserve it. He wears His heart on his sleeve so other people can touch it. He asks forgiveness when he is wrong, and he seeks to restore relationships with people just as broken as himself.

So, the next time you want to cast judgment on someone for failing you, the next time you want to treat any lady or daughter of King Jesus with disrespect and dishonor, the next time you want to make sure your needs are met before that of another, consider the heart of Christ. Who made a choice to give up His only Son before He would give up on you and me for a punishment we well deserve.

Do you want to be a real man? Start looking at the greatest model of a man we have ever been given, the Man, Jesus Christ, The TOUGHEST and most TENDER Savior of the World.