Despising the Shame
Hebrews 12:2-3
Looking unto Yahshua, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
"Despising the shame"- I want to look at this aspect of what Jesus experienced on the cross concerning shame. Was it His own shame he despised? Was He prideful and so he despised the shame of being killed in this manner? I've heard it said that crucifixion was a shameful death in those days. Was it because he was almost naked, if not naked, as He suffered on the cross for all to see, and so he was ashamed? Perhaps those things were factors partly, but let's consider another truth of the reality of Him "despising the shame."
First of all, we must realize in more depth that He took our sins upon Him. He willingly agreed to be the One that would be blamed for all the sins of mankind that had ever been done or would be done in the future. That is big enough in itself to meditate on, and seek revelation for. This is the scapegoat aspect of the cross. He was willing to not only be blamed, but to take our sins from us, and have them put on himself. He would stand before God, His Father, and look into His eyes, guilty before Him. Another depth to plumb indeed. God saw Him as if He had done all those bad and hurtful things Himself.
All the shame He felt for "sinning against God" was experienced by Jesus. AND HE DESPISED IT! Can I take license here and project that He despised the shame, because He knew the terrible weight of it on a person, and the harmful effects it produces in someone, if they try and carry it themselves. He experienced being guilty for sins, and it made Him feel oppressed, and paralyzed, and dark and bad, and unredeemable, and marked and evil even, and wanting to hide and cover His face, even to the point of being suicidal. All these things are experienced throughout the world and throughout time in those who don't, or can't or don't know they can, let their sins be placed on Him, and the shame that goes with them.
When we carry the shame of our sins, it means we haven't let them go to be placed on Jesus. I had suffered in this way for many years, not realizing that I was still carrying my sins. I had thought subconsciously that I didn't deserve forgivness, and that punishment was the only way I would learn my lesson. So, the guilt I felt so heavily, was my own way of punishing myself, and it produced many harmful effects inside of me and in my life.
One thing shame does is that so dominates one's soul that it keeps anything good from entering. It judges it's host as a guard does in prison, and brings more scorn and shame. It can create self-hatred from this self-judgement, and out of this, becomes a judge itself to others. One very destructive result of shame is that it prevents healing for the person. Not one thing can change to reverse the power over sin if shame is still part of the equation.
"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," because He took the shame, although He despised it. He took the shame for our sins, if we will but only let Him take it. Sometimes we just think about confessing our sins to Him, but don't let go of the shame that goes with the sin, and then wonder why we don't seem to be feeling washed and clean and free. It's because we haven't let go of the shame that He took on Himself. His transformation in us can not happen, with shame standing by. It must be released. We can be forgiven and we can feel forgiven. He offers us that. He died for that, and He suffered the shame of our sins.
I have someone so dear to me who I love very much, who has fallen into sin. I am still reeling at the thought of it. I want him to know this truth, for if he doesn't, things will just go downhill, but if he knows about letting go of his shame, things can and will turn around. The weight of our shame is too heavy to carry ourselves. The realization that we have sinned against God, and have to face Him with this, is too frightening, and we truly can't bear it. So, Christ came. He bore it. He bore our shame, and He despised what it can do to us if we try and carry it ourselves. It's not that we don't feel guilty when we see our sin, it's that we don't go to Him with it, and don't completely let it go and the accompanying shame with it.
We don't have to worry about taking advantage of God's grace, when we do, if we are sincerely His. We will appreciate what He has done for us, and then can receive his forgiveness and subsequent healing, as He conforms us to His image, for His glory. We come to know His love for us in this way.
For those of you who are living in the shame of your sin-Let it go to Jesus. He's already suffered for it, and He offers you relief from the terrific weight of it. This is the only way. He is the only way. Go through Him. He holds your ticket to freedom.
He came not for the well, but the sick. I personally believe that it was not only the sin that killed Him, but equally if not more, the shame that did. Is His death in vain, or will you be forgiven?
Looking unto Yahshua, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
"Despising the shame"- I want to look at this aspect of what Jesus experienced on the cross concerning shame. Was it His own shame he despised? Was He prideful and so he despised the shame of being killed in this manner? I've heard it said that crucifixion was a shameful death in those days. Was it because he was almost naked, if not naked, as He suffered on the cross for all to see, and so he was ashamed? Perhaps those things were factors partly, but let's consider another truth of the reality of Him "despising the shame."
First of all, we must realize in more depth that He took our sins upon Him. He willingly agreed to be the One that would be blamed for all the sins of mankind that had ever been done or would be done in the future. That is big enough in itself to meditate on, and seek revelation for. This is the scapegoat aspect of the cross. He was willing to not only be blamed, but to take our sins from us, and have them put on himself. He would stand before God, His Father, and look into His eyes, guilty before Him. Another depth to plumb indeed. God saw Him as if He had done all those bad and hurtful things Himself.
All the shame He felt for "sinning against God" was experienced by Jesus. AND HE DESPISED IT! Can I take license here and project that He despised the shame, because He knew the terrible weight of it on a person, and the harmful effects it produces in someone, if they try and carry it themselves. He experienced being guilty for sins, and it made Him feel oppressed, and paralyzed, and dark and bad, and unredeemable, and marked and evil even, and wanting to hide and cover His face, even to the point of being suicidal. All these things are experienced throughout the world and throughout time in those who don't, or can't or don't know they can, let their sins be placed on Him, and the shame that goes with them.
When we carry the shame of our sins, it means we haven't let them go to be placed on Jesus. I had suffered in this way for many years, not realizing that I was still carrying my sins. I had thought subconsciously that I didn't deserve forgivness, and that punishment was the only way I would learn my lesson. So, the guilt I felt so heavily, was my own way of punishing myself, and it produced many harmful effects inside of me and in my life.
One thing shame does is that so dominates one's soul that it keeps anything good from entering. It judges it's host as a guard does in prison, and brings more scorn and shame. It can create self-hatred from this self-judgement, and out of this, becomes a judge itself to others. One very destructive result of shame is that it prevents healing for the person. Not one thing can change to reverse the power over sin if shame is still part of the equation.
"There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," because He took the shame, although He despised it. He took the shame for our sins, if we will but only let Him take it. Sometimes we just think about confessing our sins to Him, but don't let go of the shame that goes with the sin, and then wonder why we don't seem to be feeling washed and clean and free. It's because we haven't let go of the shame that He took on Himself. His transformation in us can not happen, with shame standing by. It must be released. We can be forgiven and we can feel forgiven. He offers us that. He died for that, and He suffered the shame of our sins.
I have someone so dear to me who I love very much, who has fallen into sin. I am still reeling at the thought of it. I want him to know this truth, for if he doesn't, things will just go downhill, but if he knows about letting go of his shame, things can and will turn around. The weight of our shame is too heavy to carry ourselves. The realization that we have sinned against God, and have to face Him with this, is too frightening, and we truly can't bear it. So, Christ came. He bore it. He bore our shame, and He despised what it can do to us if we try and carry it ourselves. It's not that we don't feel guilty when we see our sin, it's that we don't go to Him with it, and don't completely let it go and the accompanying shame with it.
We don't have to worry about taking advantage of God's grace, when we do, if we are sincerely His. We will appreciate what He has done for us, and then can receive his forgiveness and subsequent healing, as He conforms us to His image, for His glory. We come to know His love for us in this way.
For those of you who are living in the shame of your sin-Let it go to Jesus. He's already suffered for it, and He offers you relief from the terrific weight of it. This is the only way. He is the only way. Go through Him. He holds your ticket to freedom.
He came not for the well, but the sick. I personally believe that it was not only the sin that killed Him, but equally if not more, the shame that did. Is His death in vain, or will you be forgiven?
posted by Patti Blount @ 7:49 AM
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