Day 14 – Overturning Shame

Scripture tells us that Jesus overturned the shame of his crucifixion.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15).

Satan, and all the powers and authorities aligned with him, were publicly shamed by Christ through the cross.

Paul’s audience would understand this honor-shame dynamic. When a person of greater honor was shamed by someone of a significantly lower status, the offended person had the right to unleash public punishment on those who had offended their honor. This is exactly what this passage describes.

Jesus, the one with greater honor as God, was shamed by the lower status of powers and authorities. And he unleashed his shaming punishment upon them.

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities.” Satan, demons, powerful authorities fought against Jesus, tempted him, attacked him, crucified him. Yet in his death, he disarmed them. He stripped away their weapons of destruction. He tore their weapons away from them and threw them away.

“He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” Jesus further disgraced the powers and authorities – displaying himself as the victor and his captives as trophies of victory.

In Roman triumphs, the general would dress as the chief god Jupiter and lead behind him the humiliated captives. Stripped of their possessions, the captives would be paraded through the town, with the victorious Roman general leading the way. That’s the image here.

Christ especially displayed his triumph over the evil spiritual beings themselves. Christ exposed the utter helplessness of his defeated captives to the universe. He led them in his triumphal procession so that all the world might see the greatness of his victory over them by the cross.

Peter preached to a crowd, “You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead” (Acts 3:15).

Through his death, Satan, demons, and powerful authorities dishonored Christ publicly. Through his resurrection, Christ dishonored them publicly.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, everything flipped. An explosion of cosmic power took place. Sin, shame, death were overturned. Now Christ’s honor is restored for all to see. And all those who trust in him will never be put to shame.

Today: When you feel shame, declare “Jesus is my deliverer!”

~ Pastor Dave