The Shame of the Cross

Perhaps one of the greatest trials to bear when standing for the truth of Jesus Christ is the burden of standing alone while hearing the lies, the mockery, and the insults hurled your way. Whereas physical blows make one look like a martyr, mockery and insults make one look like a fool and scar not only the flesh but the spirit. Parents, take heed that your discipline helps your child to learn and grow rather than crushing the spirit under a constant barrage of ridicule and scorn. Husbands and wives, do not make yourselves feel better by making one another look like a fool. Such attacks go very deep indeed.

If anyone knew what it was to suffer alone the public mockery, insults, and shame from a crowd, it was the Lord Jesus Christ as He hung upon that cursed cross and suffered such shame for those who were chosen in Him from all eternity. He was not ashamed to bear the shame of our sin
as He suffered as no man has ever suffered. Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brethren, though He is absolutely holy and we are filled with shameful thoughts, words, and deeds (Hebrews 2:11). Our Savior endured the loneliness of all such indignities upon the cross so that you
and I would never have to suffer similar indignities alone. Let us consider the following three examples of shame that Christ suffered upon the cross in the first three hours of His crucifixion: (1) The Shame of Nakedness (Matthew 27:35-36); (2) The Shame of Being Numbered with
Criminals (Matthew 27:37-38); and (3) The Shame of Further Mockery (Matthew 27:39-44).