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One very amazing outcome of the black American experience to this hour is the confused standard of masculine strength. On the one hand, Alex Haley´s Kunta Kinte is considered a true warrior and hero for his spirited, but failed attempt to resist the will of his slave master to re-name him. On the other, Harriet Beecher Stowe´s Uncle Tom is vilified because as a Christian, He willingly took a fatal beating in the image of Jesus Christ from his hate-filled master rather than betray a confidence. O how busy Satan, the author of confusion truly is!
God naturally wired men (Kunta Kinte and Uncle Tom as fictional men included) with the physical, chemical make up as well as the inner stuff of mind and heart to fight as warriors. Why? Because by His design men are protectors of their families, tribes, nations and world if need be. But even deeper, men are made in the image and likeness of God who is the Original Warrior on behalf of His holy Kingdom and mankind!
In the Old Testament this truth is seen in God being called "Lord of hosts" (I Samuel 17:45). In prophecy (Psalm 110:5-7; Isaiah 63:1-6) and the New Testament (Revelation 6:12-17, 19:11-21), the Son of God is pictured as a mighty warrior at His return. But even before these terrifying glimpses of His soon coming display of fighting prowess, the Lord demonstrated it and His warrior´s heart at His first appearing in the 1st century AD.
Commitment to and zeal for his cause consume the heart of a warrior. After His revelation to John the Baptist at His baptism complete with the anointing of the Holy Spirit and vocal endorsement of His Father, the Lord Jesus Christ was sent immediately out to battle testing (Matthew 3:13-4:1). Having completed a 40-day fast and weak bodily with hunger, the devil came to test His commitment to God´s will, way and Word. Standing firm and true on the written Word of God, the Lord successfully turned Satan back (Matthew 4:2-11).
When He returns from the wilderness, John the Baptist points the Lord Jesus out to some of his disciples. Men begin to follow Him. Early in His ministry the Lord goes to the temple in Jerusalem and with holy indignation physically drives the merchants from the courts of His Father´s house (John 2:13-16)! In seeing this, John notes that the disciples remembered part of Psalm 69:9, '"Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up,'" (John 2:17, NKJV).
As foretold in many Old Testament prophecies, the Lord Jesus, though lowly and gentle with those who looked to Him, continued to war against the devil during the remaining three years of His ministry (Isaiah 42:1-4). He cast out demons and healed the damage they had done to people (Matthew 4:23-24).
He fearlessly took on the relentless opposition of the satanically controlled religious establishment and sent them away shame faced every time (Matthew 22:23-46). He suffered the rejection of his own family (Mark 3:20-21; John 7:1-9). He endured attempts on His life (Luke 4:16-30; John 10:31-39). Yet, He with warrior intensity pressed on to finish this phase of the Great War of the ages (John 12:27-33)!
Just hours after His last meal with His disciples (in which one left to betray Him) and before His arrest, He briefly experienced the strong will He put in the human soul and body to avert pain and death (Matthew 26:41). He fervently cried out to the Father for another way (Hebrews 5:5-8). But knowing there was not another way to crush sin, save man from eternal death and defeat the devil, He submitted to His Father´s will after three appeals.
Now resolute, He faced the disciple who betrayed Him and those who had come to arrest Him. As part of the purposeful war strategy of heaven, He voluntarily surrendered to His enemies saying, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness," (Luke 22:53, NKJV). In surrender therefore, He was still engaged in battle as a warrior, but using a tact His enemies had no idea would yield such an overwhelming victory for Him (I Corinthians 2:6-8)!
Between the ruling courts of Israel and Rome they slapped and beat Him to disfiguration. They mocked and spit on Him. Roman soldiers platted a crown of thorns and beat it down on His head. Then, they whipped Him with thirty-nine lashes, ripping chunks of flesh from His back. Afterward, they crucified Him naked on a hill called Golgotha.
Though He was in agony He uttered no bitter words to His tormentors. Only once did a loud cry come from His mouth when He sought for the eternally known fellowship of His Father. Six hours He hung on the cross and at the end spoke triumphantly, "It is finished," then bowed His head and died (John 19:30, NKJV). On the third day after He rose again!
Jesus Christ is the standard of masculine strength and a warrior for the ages! Kunta Kinte gave in to his new name to avoid pain. Uncle Tom, following Christ´s example, held true to his conviction of righteousness to the end. Now, which one is really the strong man?
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