Day 6 – Jesus Disregarded Shame
Throughout his life, Jesus consistently disregarded shame.
One example is especially striking – when Jesus was disrespected and insulted by Simon the Pharisee intentionally.
Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to a meal, but when Jesus knocked on the gate, Simon didn’t give him the customary greeting.
When Jesus was seated at the meal, Simon didn’t provide any water to wash Jesus’ feet, another common gesture of hospitality. Simon further neglected to show respect to Jesus by not anointing his head with oil.
Simon was basically rude to Jesus in every way. It appears that he was trying to provoke Jesus.
Regardless, Jesus didn’t allow himself to be taken down by all of Simon’s shameful mistreatment. In fact, he pointed out Simon’s public shaming of him, speaking the truth in love.
At the same event, in contrast, a sinful woman lavished honor and hospitality upon Jesus. And he gladly accepted the touch of this shamed woman (Luke 7:36-50).
Jesus spent time with the so-called “shameful” people of the world. He deliberately initiated conversation with the alienated Samaritan woman at the well. He publicly announced his intention to go to the house of the despised tax collector Zacchaeus.
Instead of avoiding and distancing himself from those who were isolated in society – the lame, the blind, the leprous – he moved toward them, spoke to them, touched them.
When “a man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy” (Matthew 8:2-3).
Love and power went out from Jesus. He displaced the shame of leprosy and replaced shame with healing and wholeness.
In an honor-shame culture, Jesus faced shame head on. He was not overcome or in any way defeated by shame. He shamed shame for us.
Jesus had a clear vision of his honor before God and the reversal of shame that would come in his resurrection and his return to his father in heaven.
Today: In an area of your life where you feel shame, visualize Jesus standing next to you, understanding your shame, putting his hand on you, and covering over your shame.
~ Pastor Dave
