Jesus - The Ultimate Man Series

The most elemental aspect of our identity is being challenged today. In an effort to confuse humanity and draw us away from a relationship with our Creator, Satan has launched a major assault against the family. The attack comes in the form of unbiblical ideas about the roles of men and women and the entire meaning of human sexuality, manhood and womanhood.

Satan is succeeding in convincing a generation of Pagan Americans that their identity is not linked to their birth as a male or female. NEW OPTIONS including gay marriage and transgender are pushed on young people. Those who oppose these new ideas are labeled as bigots and are labeled a threat to society.

Christian young people are being intimidated into submission as their teachers, the media, and the entertainment industry rally for gay marriage and vilify those who oppose it.

As a result, young people are confused. We have lost our identity.

John Eldredge laments about this loss. “Where are all the real men?” is regular fare for talk shows and new books. You asked them to be women, I want to say. The result is a gender confusion never experienced at such a wide level in the history of the world.”

Christian leaders are raising a voice in the darkness of our loss of identity. Many new books on Biblical Manhood and womanhood have been written. One of the most significant is the book on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood by John Piper and Wayne Grudem which was written about 25 years ago. Other books have followed and new ministries have been started to equip the church to stand against Satan’s re-definition of sex and the family. However, many churches and key leaders have already surrendered to the cultural conformity and political correctness.

Today, we begin a new sermon series on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. I want to begin with Manhood. I hope to answer the question, “What does it mean to be a man?” and do this from a Biblical point of view. Our focus for this discussion is the Person of Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Man.

Consider the implication of 1 Peter 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21, ESV). We are told that Jesus provides our example for life. For men, our concept of manhood should begin by examining the kind of man that Jesus was.

What is the MANLIEST thing you have ever done?

Climbed a mountain?

Built a house?

Driven a race car?

Starting Quarterback?

Being a man of Integrity is more rare than any of those things! Being a man like Jesus far surpasses any other earthly accomplishment. Men like Jesus do all of the things mentioned above, and more, but they live their lives for God’s glory and not self promotion.

Let’s begin by examining that Jesus is the Culmination of a Real Man. 1 Peter 2:21

Jesus was a common man. Nazareth was a common place.

Jesus was a man of strength and skill. We know that he was “the carpenter’s son.” The dialogue in Matthew 15:53-58 shows that the towns people of Nazareth all knew him and were amazed at his teaching. Most likely following in his father Joseph’s vocation, Jesus would have spend the first 30 years of his life learning about carpentry. He was a workman, aware of the method of building. His frequent references to building, houses, agriculture, nature, mountains and wildlife make it abundantly clear that he was a man’s man, and not a cultured academic. He was not raised in Jerusalem, studying in the Temple all day long. He understood the realm known by most men of his day. Consider”

1. The toughness to walk up and down the land of Israel.

2. His hands were rough.

3. He was fit and thin from his constant activity of carpentry and walking.

4. His hair was brittle and coarse from the sun and climate.

5. His skin was leathery from walking in the sun.

6. He must have had incredible physical stamina and endurance to live through his beating and survive as long as he did on the cross. A weak man would have collapsed under the weight of the cross and the cruelty of the punishment long before Jesus did.

Jesus was a sinless Man. Jesus accomplished what Adam did not.

Jesus experienced everything that all men experience. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)

Jesus was victorious over three Temptations that men struggle with

ANGER

PRIDE

LUST

Jesus overcame them all.

ANGER. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23, ESV)