by Ronda Wells
A recent discussion on a romance novel compared the tropes of alpha- and beta-male heroes. Alphas are strong, dominant men; they offer protection and security. Multiple subtypes exist within this group. Beta-males, by contrast, are gentle, shy, guy-next-door types. They go after their goals with quiet determination.
I married a beta, who hardly said five words around my family when we first dated. My father, though—a preacher and schoolteacher—after meeting him, concluded, “That boy wants to marry you.” (Dad later performed our wedding ceremony.)
Alpha and omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively, have a metaphorical meaning of all things. Jesus declares in Rev. 22:13, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13 NIV). He was present at creation and will be there at the end of days.
When Jesus visited the temple in Jerusalem, corrupt moneylenders and animal sellers in the plazas were cheating the worshippers. Furious, He tossed their tables and chairs and chased them out with a whip, saying, “It is written, … ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it into a ‘den of robbers’” (Matthew 21:12, 13 NIV).
God’s firstborn Son broke into our world as a human-fleshed Savior to rescue us from our sins. With His resurrection, Jesus conquered both death and Satan. If that’s not an alpha-male, I don’t know a better one.
Jesus is also a beta-male. The true King of Israel was born a vulnerable baby in a stable, not a palace. He taught, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”(Matthew 11:29 NIV).
At the Last Supper, knowing He faced a torturous death by crucifixion, what did Jesus do? He became a servant. He washed his disciples’ feet to show the attitude He wanted them to have as leaders of His church. A consummate beta.
Look at our current world. While we may long for an alpha-hero to stride in and fight, in reality the Alpha-Beta-Omega comes.
Are you ready to meet Him?
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1, 2 NIV
This article is brought to you by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA).
About the Author: Physician and award-winning author Dr. Ronda Wells is a wife, mom, and grandma who puts faith and family first. She loves to write “heartfelt stories from the heartland.” A member of AWSA, ACFW, and the new 2022-2024 KCWC Planning Committee, Ronda speaks to groups and writers’ conferences on Novel Malpractice: Get Your Medical Fiction Right. Connect with her at novelmalpractice.com or RondaWellsBooks.com.
Join the conversation. How does Jesus’ character as described above help you to love and trust Him more?
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