As a man this is struggle that I often ask myself. Should I
be like the guy in an action movie, a star athlete, a famous musician? Should I
emulate my Dad or one of my brothers? In the book of 1st Corinthians
11:1 Paul tells the people to follow his example as he follows the example of
Christ. Some would say then we should emulate Paul. But I think Paul meant has
he follows Christ example, so should we follow Christ’s example.
I have been looking into the life of Jesus and reviewing it
as a man, asking myself what examples or traits Jesus exhibited that every man
should strive to have. I know we should all strive to be like Christ but then
something hit me, as men we have a unique example. If I am a woman and want to
live more like Christ I must look at his actions and translate them to my role
as a woman. If I am a man then I simply need to see what I can learn from these
actions. (This is where all the women can
say he had to keep it simple for the men) With this in mind I have been studying
what Jesus did that was “man stuff”. Things that reflected how a human man
should behave.
The first thing I chose to focus on may actually shock some
people. It tends to go against what we think a man should be.
John
11:35, “Jesus wept.”
Jesus as God delayed going to see Lazarus so that the miracle
could occur. Upon arrival the man in Jesus wept at the loss of his friend. This
has always struck me as odd because he knew that he was going to raise him from
the dead, so why did he weep.
Empathy, the ability to feel the pain of those around him,
to feel their hurt of the loved ones left behind, to know the suffering of
Lazarus as he died. All of these things were not lost on Jesus. In his action
of weeping others said “look how he loved him”. Our empathy for others shows
our heart. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of
another. So as men we need to be able to understand and share the feelings of
others. This allows us to show our love for others and thru that the love of
Christ for others.
As men we must weep for others.
Amen brother, another good wright. Ecclesiastes tells us that sorrow is better than laughter, and I can't help thinking how laughter can cover up about anything. Where as empathy exposes the trueness of the heart.
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