We find a better understanding of biblical manhood in David and Jesus. David was a renowned warrior, but he was also capable of tenderness. When he lost his best friend Jonathan, David had no trouble expressing affection, shedding tears, and putting his love into poetry (2 Sam. 11–27). Jesus, too, expressed emotion without embarrassment. Yes, he drove out livestock with a whip and overturned the money changers’ tables (John 2:14– 17), but he also wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35) and over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–42). Whatever else biblical masculinity is, it clearly makes room for grief, tenderness, and closeness without treating any of that as weakness (John 13:23–25). More importantly, Jesus was not afraid to show compassion and pity, especially to the weak and the outsider (Luke 10:25–37), and said his followers would be “poor in spirit,” “meek,” and “merciful” (Matt. 5:3–10).

Jesus shows us what it means to be manly.