As transgenderism and even the permanent sexual mutilation of children are applauded in today’s society, some people are finally realizing that our understanding of male and female has gone horribly wrong. We are seeing the disastrous results of systematically destroying long-held understanding about masculinity and femininity.

If you want rock-solid truth about male and female, there is good news. It comes from the Creator of male and female, who begins focusing on this subject in the second chapter of the Bible. The Bible gives you not only perfect instruction regarding male and female, but also a perfect example.

Jesus Christ had been a glorified immortal God. Yet He became a human and lived a perfect life, and was an exemplar of masculinity.

Jesus is usually portrayed as a skinny, soft-spoken, long-haired, effeminate wimp who died of a broken heart. There is no truth in that portrayal. The Bible says it is shameful for a man to have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14). It also says effeminate men will not enter the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9).

The real Jesus was a real man. Scripture is scant on details of His physical appearance, but He certainly possessed impressive physical strength and endurance. He worked with beams and stones as a carpenter (Mark 6:3). He ate only clean foods, observing all the physical laws of good health (Hebrews 4:15). When His ministry began at age 30, He walked from city to city through mountainous terrain, at times journeying many miles in one day.

Early in His ministry, He traveled to Jerusalem and found the temple being treated like a marketplace by moneychangers and merchants. Angered at the sight, He took a handful of ropes and whipped the livestock to drive them out. He kicked over tables and chairs and scattered money across the floor (John 2:13-16). His deep voice bellowed through the halls: “Get out of my Father’s house, and take your things with you!” Few even knew who He was at this point (verse 18), yet these Jews were too fearful to challenge this strapping, righteously indignant young man.

Prior to facing Satan in person, Jesus denied Himself food and water for 40 days—something no weakling could ever endure. At the end of His life, He was tortured and flayed alive (John 19:1), then nailed to a stake with iron spikes. His robust body endured what would have easily killed the average man. He died only when a spear was finally thrust into His side.

Physical fitness is only a fraction of godly masculinity, though. Jesus was a learned man who took His education seriously even as a youth. At 12 years old, He entered the temple at Jerusalem and discussed the truth of God with the most educated theologians. Luke 2:47 says those who heard Him were “astonished at his understanding and answers.” As Jesus grew up, He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (verse 52), not because He attended a seminary but because He was self-driven (see John 7:14-15). His education never ended.

The fact that Christ began His ministry at the relatively young age of 30 reveals the character He had as a boy, a teenager and a young adult. By the time His ministry began, Jesus had developed into a persuasive speaker. Those who heard Him were astounded at His eloquence, and those who hadn’t heard Him traveled a long way so they could. He had a commanding presence. After His sermon on the Mount of Olives, the people were astonished at His speaking because He “taught them as one having authority” (Matthew 7:28-29). He boldly castigated the self-righteous religious leaders of the day: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” He cried. “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:29, 33). Yet Jewish authorities coveted His popularity. Even Pontius Pilate, who oversaw Christ’s execution, acknowledged that Jesus was a just man who spoke the truth (Matthew 27:23-24).

Along with steel-like traits of vibrant health, intelligence, decisive leadership, righteous indignation and powerful persuasiveness, Jesus’s example of masculinity shows that men should be humble, serving and compassionate. He spent time helping sinners that others deplored (Luke 5:31-32). He was the Lord and Master of His disciples, yet He washed their feet, like the lowest of servants (John 13:13-14). No matter how busy He was, or how crowded the scene, Christ always served God and served the weak and lowly (e.g. Matthew 20:34). He took time out for children (Mark 10). He spoke to Samaritans and to women (John 4:7-30; 8:7-11). Scribes and Pharisees criticized Him for spending time with sinners, but He knew that the sick are the ones who need the physician (Luke 5:31-32). He taught that those who serve most will receive the highest positions in God’s Kingdom. Jesus, the humblest servant ever, qualified to be King in God’s Kingdom.

Yes, a man should be masculine. And he should not define masculinity for himself, but by the perfect example recorded in the Bible of strength, boldness, courage, gentleness, patience, meekness and taking the lead in order to truly serve. There are indeed definite roles for men and for women. They have an inspiring purpose. And men (and women) can start by understanding the perfect example of true masculinity: Jesus Christ.