By Pastor John Brito

Shame can keep you from reaching the things that God has set before you; shame from having been physically, verbally or sexually abused; shame from hearing at an early age that you’re a failure, that you’ll never amount to anything, and that everything’s your fault. These things, though perhaps done to us years ago, have a way of replaying in our head and thus hindering our growth. What makes shame particularly difficult to carry is that, unlike guilt that focuses on what we’ve done, shame focuses on who we are.

But I have good news to share. Jesus already took our shame so that we don’t have to. Hebrews 12:1-3 states it like this:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (NLT)

Crucifixion brought shame and pain. Victims were flogged and severely beaten, and then made to carry their cross, naked, to the place where they would be crucified. Jesus endured the shame of crucifixion for us. But it wasn’t just the shame of crucifixion that Jesus bore. He bore all our shame. Here’s what I mean.

In those days, Rome functioned on a system of honor and shame. In a family, the wife could bring shame on her husband by failing to fulfill her relational obligations toward him. The same was true of children. When we consider that God is our father, our creator and our king, and that he expects us to honor him by meeting our relational obligation toward him, then it becomes evident that we have spit in his face by doing whatever we’ve wanted, without concern for his requirements. Jesus, however, bore our shame on the cross so that we won’t have to feel ashamed before God any more. But his death on the cross covers all our shame, including every negative word and every abusive act done toward us; all of it.

Not only did Jesus bear our shame, he’s not ashamed of us. Hebrews 2:11 says, “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” (NLT) Jesus made it possible for us to share his Father as our own, and he’s not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters. So why continue carrying shame if Jesus, the most important person in the universe, isn’t ashamed of us.

If that weren’t enough, Hebrews 11:16 says, “But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (NLT) So, if Jesus bore our shame and is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters, and if God is not ashamed to be called our God, then why do we continue to live with shame?

The story of the Prodigal Son illustrates this (cf. Luke 15:11-32). After squandering the inheritance that his father had given him and living a sinful life that failed to uphold the moral upbringing that he had received, the starving son returned home penniless, bringing with him the shame that he had brought upon his father. He was prepared to tell his father, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” (NLT)

But when his father saw him from afar, he ran to him, embraced him and kissed him. His son started telling his father what he had rehearsed. But as he was getting ready to say, “Please take me on as a hired servant,” his father interrupted him by saying the following words to his servants:

“Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” (Luke 15:22-24, NLT)

Shame was not discussed that day. Instead, celebration filled the air. The son that was dead had now returned to life. Whatever shame the son felt was swept away by the father’s grace. God sees us the same way. He doesn’t entertain our shame. He celebrates the new life that we have in Jesus.

Are you ready to let go of shame? Do this:
1. Know that Jesus took our shame, so we don’t have to.
2. Know that Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters.
3. Know that God is not ashamed to be called our God.
4. Know that God doesn’t entertain our feelings of shame, but instead celebrates the fact that we’re his children and have new life in Jesus.
5. Make this prayer to release your shame. Jesus, you bore my shame so that I don’t have to. Today, I let go of my shame and celebrate the fact that I’m a child of God that has new life in you. I pray in your name, amen.

Did you let it go? Then it’s time to celebrate! How are you going to celebrate?