Be a MAN!

Ok, so this is more directed at my guy buddies out there somewhere....but i think it can be applicable to ladies as well....

The manly man Jesus; Can we stop being men of the world and men like Jesus?

I was preparing a devotional for a men’s group meeting here in town…actually we went out to a mountain, but anyway, I was thinking about being a man, a ‘real man’, you know, machismo and testosterone and grunting. I was thinking does this really match up with what God expects me to be? Does it really jive with WHO Jesus was…because as far as I know we are supposed to be like Him (conformed into HIS likeness), not like some celebrity, famous person or hero. So here is what I studied and read and what my conclusion is.

If, as my church doctrine and personal belief are true that Jesus was in fact fully human (yet sinless) and fully God (yet experienced exactly what we experience), then I have to believe Jesus was the best example of being a human possible. More than being the best human he was the best example of being a man, a true man. In fact He was the ultimate man. He was the perfect embodiment of what a man is to be. He without fault displayed true compassion, zeal, kindness, self-control, peace, obedience, truthfulness, integrity, purposefulness and grace. So I was thinking of these things and picked up a book by Bruce Marchiano who is an actor who played Jesus in a film. The experience changed him and made him appreciate the person and masculinity of Jesus.

In his book, The Character of a man; Reflecting on the image of Jesus he says, “Grace was the most comprehensive, underlying, over-blanketing constant that spilled from his every miracle and his every teaching. His every drop of sweat and every drop of blood.” P.87 Also that the words Jesus used were not wasted or trite, in fact they were perfect for each opportunity and person. Again Bruce writes, “The challenge…that man would so guard his mouth that no careless words would ever be spoken and no words would ever be spoken in careless way. That no matter the circumstances or the pull of self-interest a man would choose to speak with ‘Jesus’ lips’—lips anointed in grace”. P. 95 (We can see this clearly in the following verses. Luke 4:22--gracious words fell from his lips. In Math. 12:34-36 Jesus says out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks…and he wasn’t just speaking of good overflow!) This Jesus was accustomed to hard work, walking long distances, sleeping outdoors, being weary and hungry. He was not pampered, self-interested or isolated from those around him although he did spend time alone, sometimes running away from the masses that followed him and his every word, he wasn’t selfish, more self-aware of his own needs to be with the Father.

Our role model had constant purpose. Bruce again writes, “there is nothing lukewarm about this man. There is nothing halfway, nothing cool, nothing maybe this or maybe that. He is a man who knows exactly what he’s been born for and exactly what it will cost him and he isn’t afraid to march headlong into it. He is impassioned and holy and his manhood drips from it. He moves with purpose and urgency never wasting a moment, never moaning about this difficulty or groaning over that frustration. He just moves forward and passes on and presses through.” P.58 “He wakes every morning- a man who knows who he is and what his life is about. He rises from every challenge that would steal his excitement and beat him down. He stares the enemies of his soul and life’s potential straight in the eye and says ‘I’m a child of the living God and you’re not going to crush even a moment of the thrill’. Refusing mediocrity he rolls up his sleeves and dives into each day. He shakes free of the fatigue and the ache and pains of life lived in a broken creation …he digs his heels firmly into every responsibility and purpose God intends for him. P.65

My conclusion after reading this book, looking up verses and stories of Jesus to support these thoughts and meditating on them was very simple, I have long way to go. This man, this Jesus, this Rabbi, teacher, friend to sinners, guest of tax collectors and buddy to the really disgustingly sick….His standard of who we should be as people is a high mark. As far as masculinity….well, I just think we need to chill about being the toughest, fastest, most handsome, having the most toys and belike HIM. Gracious, compassionate, passionate for that which is right, careful and deliberate with our words, self aware of our needs and who we are. If this sounds too general, sorry but I think it is the best place to start being who we were intended (predestined) to be….LIKE HIM.

He lived 100%....
in every moment.
in submission to the father’s will
guided by the Holy Spirit
free of fear
with purpose
spilling out words and acts of grace
free of indulgence or sinful pursuits

The conclusions are simple.

Philippians 2:5-8 …be like Him in your attitude…humbled and obedience
Mathew 5:48 …be perfect like your Father in heaven
…Be holy (Lev. 19:2) or blameless (Deut. 18:13) or perfecting holiness (2 Cor. 7:1)
John 13:15 …do as Jesus did
Romans 8:29 … be conformed to the likeness of His Son

Everyone who crosses our path should say, “Oh yeh, he must be one of those Christians, he acts, talks and is just like Jesus.”

This is our challenge, our calling and our freedom. To throw off the weights, restraints and demands of this world (no matter what culture) and live as Jesus did, do the things He did, speak words like He spoke, and….do even greater things! (John 14:12!!????---maybe look into this another time!)

Finally my disclaimer/challenge.

“12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.” Philippians 3:12-15

His
Kevin