A man who chooses the Jesus script is…
A man who publicly celebrates the successes of other men.
A man who embraces the script of manhood from Jesus is a man who publicly celebrates the success of other men because he's not controlled by jealousy or envy.
Jealousy and envy can act like cancer within a man. If left unaddressed and untreated, it spreads. Over time, it metastasizes and can impact every area of our lives. It’s only natural to feel the arrows when they strike: He got the promotion. She chose him. He got that new car.
Matthew captured this conversation between Jesus and his closest followers, where he publicly celebrated one of them.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
—Matthew 16:13–20
Can you imagine being Peter at that moment? In front of the other disciples, Jesus celebrated Peter’s faith. He gave him a new name (previously he was known as Simon) then talked about building his church and giving Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. That must have been a pretty good day for Peter, right?
What about the others present that day? What did Matthew and John think of Jesus’s proclamation about Peter? What was going through the minds of Andrew, Thomas, and even Judas as they heard those words spoken? Did they wonder why Peter was singled out? Did they remember the last time Peter acted without thinking and thought, Really? That guy? You’re giving him the keys to the kingdom?
These ordinary men faced a choice that we still face today. Will we be controlled by our petty jealousies and lingering envious thoughts? Or will we be men who follow the Jesus script for manhood and recognize that true success is found in following the plans Jesus has for us. When we walk in the confidence of who God made us to be, we can celebrate others’ successes with a clean heart and pure motives.
Jesus’s proclamation that day was celebrating the faith that Peter proclaimed. He was celebrating the fact that his Father in heaven had revealed this truth to Peter. And on this rock of faith that Peter and others proclaimed, a church or movement would be forming. That’s worth celebrating!
Is there someone in your world who could use some celebrating? Let them know how you see God working in and through them. If you’re a father, your sons and daughters could use your recognition and celebration. Tell them what you appreciate about how God made them. Celebrate like crazy when they choose God’s way over their own way.
And the next time you feel the currents of jealousy and envy rising within you, choose to celebrate rather than ruminate. That’s what men whose confidence is securely attached to Jesus do.
