Hebrews 12:2-3
Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.
Jesus, God made man ; The creator of Heaven and Earth; Who called forth angels as His servants, had to endure shame because a rebellious angel had caused another creation, man, to rebel against Him. Satan , who is God's creation - Colossians 1:16-17 “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” - instigated man, another of God's creation to sin (Genesis 3). The God of all creation, who is greater than Satan, and greater than man, out of love for man , became a man in order to save man from sin. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Jesus Christ faced a lot of humiliation for our sake - his birth was not in a palace but in a manger to begin with. His actual birth was controversial - a virgin claimed the Holy Spirit had impregnated her - I can almost hear people of that age and time describing Mary's story as 'hogwash.' Then Jesus had to face His own creation as they sentenced Him to death by crucifixion. They stripped Him naked, beat Him until His body was tattered, pierced His side, and ironically put a crown of thorns on His head, and an inscription on his cross that read - "This is Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews."
God was mocked through and through as Jesus hang on the cross. Jesus, who is of the same league as God accepted shame and persecution which led to an embarrassing death - Philippians 2:6-8 Who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Hebrews 12:3 urges us to consider the shame Jesus endured, lest we become weary and faint as we run our race. Prior to this, in Hebrews 12:1, we were admonished to set aside weights and sins that easily beset us in order to run our race well. Then we are told to consider Jesus who set His eyes on things above , so was able to endure the shame on Earth. In other words, when we become grounded in who we are, and what glories lies ahead of us, then we can be like Jesus, and put aside weights and sins, and by humility and patience, run to finish our earthly race, despising shame and disgrace as they come against us. In Philippians 2:5, we are encouraged to have the same humble attitude of Christ that enabled Him to empty himself to endure shame and ridicule . Jesus's ability to endure shame has led to His elevation. We are to do same.
So then, how can we endure shame in this age and time....more to follow!
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