He Bore Our Shame

He Bore Our Shame

by Eunice Khoo

1st year medical student, Nottingham University, UK

27 February, 2012

‘I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.’ Isaiah 50:6 (KJV)

The shame that Jesus bore must have been incredible.

He was the Son of God, He had the greatest reputation in heaven, He was holy, He knew no sin, angels worshipped Him.  But there He was hanging on a cross, humiliated, mocked, dying the death of a criminal, despised and rejected.

It started with a betrayal, and soon after an arrest. He was then deserted and denied by His followers. Alone, He was accused, then charged, flogged and finally crucified.

All the while people mocked Him. ‘Save yourself’ they said. They put a crown of thorns on His head. They spat at Him. ‘Prophesy’ the soldiers said.

I always secretly hoped that Jesus would come down of the cross and summon His legions of angels just to prove that He is God, and not endure such shame. But He chose to.

Why?

1. So that we need not be ashamed again.

Rom 9:33 quoting Isaiah says ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense, And whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.’ Jesus came to bear the consequence of our sin – and one of them is shame.

Charles Spurgeon says in one of His sermons  ‘ Jesus took upon Himself our sin, and being found bearing that sin He had to be treated as sin should be treated.’ Jesus was treated shamefully because that was the way sin should be treated, and now as a result we need not endure the shame of sin.

2. So that God need not be ashamed to call us His own.

Jesus bridged the gap. He bore our shame so that when God sees us, He does not see us in our sin and shame, He does not need to punish us. He sees Christ instead. We are His! How great is our God.

Because Jesus bore my shame, I now can lift my head up, and can enter His presence with boldness. What a privilege.