Real Men

“Jesus wept” John 11:35.

Here Lazarus has passed away, and upon seeing the grief stricken friends Jesus cries out of sympathy for those who mourn him. (he then resurrects Lazarus, but that’s not the point i’m making here. Although it’s still awesome.)

If I ever hear another guy say “real men don’t cry” I might flip out.

Jesus is as real as it gets.

Jesus was not a “tough guy” who acted to tough for things. he did not mistreat women and make jokes about “going to make me sandwiches”.

He did not let his pride get in the way of other people, he wasn’t proud.
Jesus was humble. He did go around pounding his chest saying what a man he was.

“Real men don’t cry” is a lie we are brought up with.

As men we have to conform to this “Perfect Man” image. Able to bench press a car, get any girl, run a 5:00 min mile (I’m still trying to break 6 min…), be a star football player, drive the coolest car, have the “best” job, and be able to “hold your liquor” (hold your liquor = approx. 5 bottles of whiskey).
Alright, that may have seemed a little ridiculous. But whats more ridiculous is that its true.
Men are held to an impossible “super-human” standard by society.

So what happens because of it? we question our “manhood”, we are insecure. I mean obviously every other guy but you is achieving this everyday. Duh.

Well we know that isn’t true.

Jesus Didn’t die and be resurrected for us to sit here and try to out arm wrestle each other.

He called us to be “Confidently Humble.”

We as men owe it to ourselves, our wives, and (most importantly) to God to be Real.

So what is it to be real?

Its to accept how you were created. We were created with emotions. We were created to connect with others.

So suppressing our emotions and “putting on a face” to avoid looking weak is not the answer.
We should be open with how we feel, because it is through that that our relationships with friends and wives grow stronger. Its how trust is built.

They see the real you.

At the same time we are then also called to lead. To be strong.
And we can do that, we can be strong.

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
We are made truly strong through Christ. So we should mirror him in our actions.
So we can still lead, we can still be strong. We Can BE MEN!

We can also be real.

Be comfortable in yourself through Christ. Accept Yourself and Your manliness through Him.
So don’t be afraid to show who you are, and how you feel.

Don’t be afraid to cry.

“Jesus wept” John 11:35.