Christ's Shame Before Men

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame.

Shame is the consequence of sin and the fall of man. Before the fall, there was no shame.

Shame is the result of failure or criticism or rejection by others. Men may be ashamed because of what they have done, or who they are, or what they look like. They may even be ashamed of false accusations and unmerited criticisms by others.

Isaiah foretold that Christ would be subject to shame and spitting, and that He would not hide His face from it, because He was obedient to the Father's will.

Psalm 22 describes some of the shame that was heaped upon Jesus. He suffered the shame of rejection as the creator and as the savior. The Greatest and most Blessed was rejected and treated as nothing by the world all through His ministry. Yet He responded with meekness and humility.

Jesus was also falsely accused of sin, of demonic power, of madness, while He was plotted against by the rulers of Israel. Then He was falsely convicted and hustled about as a criminal by the judges.

The Roman soldiers acted out Christ's shame when they beat and mocked and spit upon him in royal robes.

But Calvary was the greatest shame: to be executed though innocent! Men will alway assume such a one must be guilty! The means was the most cruel, a pagan's delight in torture by crucifixion.

While He hung there, He was mocked and taunted further. Most cruelly, He was mocked while He was saving His people by demands that He come down from the cross! Thus He suffered the shame of ridicule for saving poor sinners.

They even mocked His cry foretold in Psalm 22:1.

But God's people are not ashamed of Jesus!