Jesus was the manliest of all men and he cried. What does that mean for all men?
Talking Points:
- Hollywood has shaped our view of masculinity in many ways. John Wayne, war movies and films like Rambo depicted men who were unemotional.
- Our parents also shaped our view of what it means to be a real man. Some dads are emotional making that seem normal to their sons while others have fathers who are critical of emotions and say that crying shows weakness.
- Tears don’t just have to be related to sadness. We can experience tears of joy, too. Instead of holding it in, we should be free to express what we feel. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
- Jesus showed emotion and he is the most powerful of all. He created us with emotions so we shouldn’t fight or ignore them. We should learn about our emotions and how to express them in healthy ways. John 11:33-36
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- How did your family handle emotions? Were you encouraged to express or withhold emotions like crying when you were growing up?
- What are some stereotypical traits of a manly man in our culture? How do you measure up to those standards?
- Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. There is a time for everything. Why is it important to express emotions, good and bad?
- Read John 11:33-36. Identify the emotions Jesus exhibited in this passage. Why do you think Jesus cried? What impact do you think his weeping had on the people that day? How does knowing that Jesus cried impact your view on if men should cry or not?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
