Submitted by Jon Zirkle
The Christian Bible gives us four accounts of Jesus. We see different angles of Jesus—Jesus as a baby, as an adolescent, and as an adult man. Jesus appears to his disciples after his death. Stories describe his birth and his brutal execution, his adult experiences of escaping to wilderness for prayer, walking long distances, healing sick people and casting out demons, crossing boundaries and facing taboo head-on, feeding others, riding on donkeys unarmed. As a male Jesus had a life full of experiences that involved risk.
Here in 2026 living on the North American continent, displays of masculinity constantly confront us in the media, online, at sporting events, and in politics. Boys and men daily see images of men who dominate on the field, in the bedroom, and in the workplace. Often the images in ads are of men alone, solo heroes. We see men who refuse to admit wrong-doing, men who abuse and steal without consequences, men driving big trucks through rivers and over huge boulders, men worshipped for their chiseled bodies. Men are portrayed as above reproach, measured by their financial worth, have things under control and are in control.
These images are vastly different than what we hear in the stories of Jesus. The Jesus I witness was a man who forgave others, a man who left behind a normal way of life in order to share good news and help others who suffer, a man who wept openly and cried out to God, centered love and service, could express joy and took time to celebrate with friends, and regularly depended on a group of men. The Jesus I read about was not married with children, did not own a house or many possessions, was bullied and taunted and threatened, and didn’t retaliate towards enemies. He was obedient to that which was beyond him, to his Creator. He believed in the power of prayer. He was willing to publicly die in a humiliating way. I can only imagine the kind of bullying, name-calling, and taunting Jesus would experience if living in 2026.
Are we—am I—ready to follow Jesus?
Following Jesus as a male in 2026 in North America is feeling pretty radical. Let’s be real. We—myself included—are continually tempted to believe that we don’t need help from others, that work and making money are more important than offering love and service, that “our” time is better spent working out than in prayer and fellowship. Porn, fierce competition, displays of unfiltered anger and violence, and celebrations of war and military service abound. This can all feel overwhelming. I believe we men need support, a healthy sense of self, a commitment to prayer, and vulnerable brotherly community to follow Jesus’ alternative path.
If you identify as male and you’re reading this right now, I hope you know that you are not alone if you are struggling to resist the forces that bombard us as men. I hope you know that your life, your story, your gifts, your body, the person that you are really matters in this life and beyond. I hope you can hear God’s voice that calls your name, that you feel permission to lean into the messages of Jesus, rejecting false idols of empire and domination.
I hope you’ll join other men who want to try to follow Jesus. If you (or another male in your life) do not have community, consider attending a men’s retreat or to join or start a men’s group, which could be an online group. Identify a friend, family member, co-worker, therapist, pastor, or another mature person you trust who might help you connect or might even join you in your search for fellowship. Reach out to us at Mennonite Men by e-mail for ideas. Explore our resources, books, and videos found at https://mennonitemen.org/joinmen/. Brothers, you are in our prayers.
