The Essence of Manhood

Been previewing a series on Biblical Manhood as possible material for our men’s meeting on Sunday afternoon. The teacher of this study pointed something out that I think is profound.

Jesus Christ exhibited more manhood in the manger, than most of us will ever grasp. Look at Philippians 2:5-11:

Phi 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Phi 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
[As in, he was God. All the rights and privileges, all the power and honor and glory of God belonged to him, and it wasn’t robbery. He was the greatest being in the universe, and was rightfully called such by the angels. He was the friend of Abraham…]
Phi 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
[…yet he was willing to be made into a man, specifically a descendant of Abraham. How humbling! To be made into the creature that corrupted every part of his beautiful creation! To become like one of us.]
Phi 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
[He humbled himself so much, that he was willing to be obedient even unto death. And not just any death, but the most painful, agonizing, torturous death the wicked human mind has yet been able to conceive.]
Phi 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Phi 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Phi 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Amen! True manhood is to humble oneself. To die to the desires and wishes of my own flesh, my “self”, and live instead to the desires and wishes of my heavenly Father. To put others before myself. To give my life to the Lord, and therefore to others also. It is a the servant’s heart that is the greatest heart of all! And that is why Jesus Christ, laying there in the manger as a human child, showed us that he is the very “Essence of Manhood.” 

In other, unrelated news, I have discovered that it is much more difficult to purchase a long-necked, plastic funnel than I had previously thought possible.   *sigh*