Why did the Lord Jesus suffer shame?

The word  "wherefore"  is a most wonderful little word in the Bible.  

It is a word that cements  the chapter that goes before it, with the chapter that is coming up.  

This is exactly what it does here in  

Hebrews 12:2  "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,  let us lay aside every weight,  and the sin which doeth so easily beset us,  and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  Looking unto 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."  

These witnesses are the ones who have run the race before us. 

We are the ones who get to study the ways in which God dealt with them while they were here on earth.

They were "running the race" just as we do today.

They were people just like you and me.

God has given us all we need to get to know Him. He has given us His Word, and He has given us the Holy Spirit who will reveal Him and will guide us in all truth.

Our minds are feeble, just too small to take in  His goodness, His mercy,  His grace, and His love.

Oh the Great Love of God. 

They nailed my Lord upon the tree
And left Him, dying, there:
Thro' love He suffered there for me;
'Twas love beyond compare.

Refrain:
Crucified! crucified!
And nailed upon the tree!
With pierced hands and feet and side!
For you! For me!

Upon His head a crown of thorns,
Upon His heart my shame;
For me He prayed, for me He died,
And dying, spoke my name.

"Forgive them, O forgive!" He cried,
Then bowed His sacred head;
O Lamb of God! my sacrifice!
For me Thy blood was shed.

His voice I hear, His love I know;
I worship at His feet;
And kneeling there, at Calv'ry's cross,
Redemption is complete.

Thanks: SermonAudio.com

Amen!

Christ is everything we are not.

We are like tiny ants running around in this vast universe, and when we actually see ourselves as these tiny ants, we will never become so puffed up with selfishness,  bitterness and pride. 

Oh today if we could only see ourselves as God sees us.

We would hate ourselves.

We are sinners because we are born in sin.

Just as cricketers play cricket because they are cricketers, sinners sin because they are sinners. 

There is only one way of escape for anyone who wants to become sinless - we must be born-again.  

1 Peter 1:23   "Being born-again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible,  by the Word of God,  which liveth and abideth forever." 

The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the full price for our  salvation  -  that is our redemption. 

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43). 

To be a child of God, we must be born-from-above. 

Born of the Spirit of God.

"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1John 5:12).

We are saved by faith by hearing the Word of God. 

We must hear the Word before we can believe it. 

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." 

The Word of God is a miracle book in this day of grace - the day of the Holy Spirit - because it transforms our lives.

THE WORD OF GOD  IS  INCORRUPTIBLE  SEED.  

1 Peter 1:25   "But the Word of the Lord endureth forever.  And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

The Word of God is the only book that can bring about the new birth within us.

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby:  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious" (1 Peter 2:1).

We need the teaching of the Word of God above everything else in  this His marvelous Day of Grace.

It is the inspired Word of the only true living God. 

Acts 5:41-42   "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

The apostles were bold. 

They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Lord Jesus and they continued to teach and preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the gospel?

It is a Person. It is Christ Jesus. 

The apostles taught that  the Lord Jesus death upon the cross and His resurrection from the dead was the only way of salvation and this brought shame and persecution to them, just as it brings shame to us who preach and teach the Lord Jesus Christ in our day.  

People do not like to hear that they are sinners.

They do not like to hear that only 

through the Lord Jesus will they ever go to heaven.

The Lord Jesus is the only way to God the Father.

To approach God we must be in Christ Jesus. 

God cannot look upon sin therefore we must be in Christ for He is our righteousness.

"Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).

THE LORD JESUS IS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.

We can be sure that all who preach and teach Christ Jesus will suffer shame and persecution.

All who stand for truth are hated by those who will not receive the truth. Those who blame others for their sin. 

They like to pretend they are not that bad.

They are not willing to bear the shame of their sin so they do not acknowledge it. They hide it and they deceive only themselves. 

The Lord Jesus bore our shame, when He hung and suffered, and bled and died in our deserved place upon the cruel rugged tree of Calvary.  

Paul preached the Gospel, he laid his life bare before the entire world.

"So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" (Romans 1:15-18).

Apostle Paul was a witness of the marvelous grace of God.

The Lord Jesus died so that we may be born-again, born-from-above.

He saved us in order that He might have fellowship with us, that He may abide in us and live His life in and through us.

He saved us by grace and we are to live by grace 

"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

"Beseech" means to beg  -  this is not Law it is by the grace of God that we are to walk so as to please God and bring glory to His name here on this earth, daily.

Let us here and now give praise and thanks to our Mighty God for the life of Fanny Crosby.

Thou, my everlasting portion,
More than friend or life to to me,
All along my pilgrim journey,
Saviour, let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
All along my pilgrim journey,
Saviour, let me walk with Thee.

Not for ease or worldly pleasure,
Nor for fame my prayer shall shall be;
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
Gladly will I toil and suffer,
Only let me walk with Thee.

Lead me thro' the vale of shadows,
Bear me o'er life's fitful fitful sea;
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee.
Close to Thee, close to Thee,
Close to Thee, close to Thee;
Then the gate of life eternal
May I enter, Lord, with Thee.

Thanks: SermonAudio.com

Amen!

If perhaps you have not yet accepted the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour may I beseech you in Christ Jesus to come to Him. Believe in Him, He is the Christ of God and He died to give you eternal life. Life in Himself.

"The Lord Jesus said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God" (Luke 9:20).

Will you please ask Him to be your Saviour today?

Invite Him to come into your life, "O taste and see that the Lord is good."

Psalm 34:3-8   "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the LORD, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him."

Man of sorrows what a name?  For the Son of God who came.

Ruined sinners to reclaim  HALLELUJAH!  What a Saviour

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,  in my place condemned He stood,

Sealed my pardon with His blood  HALLELUJAH!  What a Saviour.

Lifted up was He to die,  It is finished,  was His cry.

Now in heaven exalted high,  HALLELUJAH!  What a Saviour.  

When He comes, our glorious King,  All His ransomed home to bring,

Then a new this song we'll sing,  HALLELUJAH!  What a Saviour.

Played by me as it is one of my very favorite hymns. It is the Lord Jesus, "O taste and see," He fulfills the desires of our hearts when we "delight ourselves in Him." Truly Our Lord has given me every single thing i need in this life and He fulfills all the desires of my own heart. 

He gives me complete satisfaction and peace that passes all understanding in the midst of every trial of my faith. O today I can say that I am completely satisfied with the Lord Jesus Christ and with what He did for me on the tree of Calvary and all I can do is to praise God the Father for the Lord Jesus who bore my shame and praise Him 24/7 for His great mercy that He continually pours into my life.

The Lord Jesus is the only Saviour of this world.

Isaiah 53:2-10   "The servant grew up before God  -  a tender plant.  There was nothing attractive about Him, nothing to cause us to take a second look at Him.  He was looked down upon and scorned, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.  One look at Him, made people turn away.  

We looked down on Him,  despised Him.  But the fact is, it was our pain He bore  -  our disfigurements,  all the things that we did wrong. We thought He brought it on Himself,  that God was punishing Him for His own failures.  

But it was our sins that did this to Him, that ripped Him apart and crushed Him  -  our sins!  He took our punishment, and that punishment,  made us whole.  Through His bruises we are healed.  

We are all like sheep who have wandered away and gotten lost.  We have all done our own thing, gone our own way.  And God has piled all our sins,  everything we've done wrong, on Him.  

He was beaten,  He was tortured,  but He didn't say a word.  

Like a Lamb taken to be slaughtered, He never cried out. Like a sheep being sheered,  He remained silent.  

Justice was miscarried and He was led off  -  and nobody knew what was happening?  He died without a thought for His own welfare." 

God's eternal plan was that His only begotten Son should give His life a ransom for many.

"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

He was the spotless Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world (See John 1:29).

Those who receive Him as their personal Saviour are to become His bride one day. 

GOD'S PLAN  WILL PROSPER THROUGH HIM.

Isaiah 53:11   "He shall see of the travail of His soul,  and shall be satisfied;  by His knowledge shall My righteous servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.  

Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He hath poured out His soul unto death;  and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many,  and made intercession for the transgressors."  

We have a living and a rejoicing Saviour.

His suffering led to entire satisfaction.  

He bore our hell so that we can have His heaven.  

God is satisfied because millions, down through the ages have come to Him for salvation. They have found release from their guilt, pardon for  their wrongdoing, and healing from the leprosy of sin.  

The Lord Jesus said there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents.

"   ...   what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:8-10).

We have a very joyful, happy Saviour in heaven because of all those who have turned to Him for salvation.

It is going to be indescribable joy to be for ever with the Lord Jesus Christ in glory one day.   

He wants to give you eternal life if you will but turn to Him. 

He is not asking you for anything.

He wants to give you His gift of eternal life.

Romans 4:5  "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted  for righteousness."  

PRAYERFULLY MEDITATE ON:

Jeremiah 3:25   "We lie down in our shame,  and our confusion covereth us,  for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers,  from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God."

JUDAH HAD GONE OVER TO IDOLATRY.

They had sunk to a very low level  -  there was great immorality in the land.

She had played the harlot and 

God asked her to return to Him.

God had already begun to judge Judah by withholding the rain.

JUDAH REFUSED TO LISTEN TO GOD.

THEY DID NOT CONFESS THEIR SINS.

The prophet Jeremiah confessed their sins and his own sins.

It wouldn’t hurt for us to have a little confession of sin today. 

We hear so much about special gifts and about God’s blessing in special ways. That is wonderful. We should thank God because He has blessed us but  instead of praying for rain we ought to get on our knees and confess our sins starting with the leaders in the local churches setting the example as did the prophet Jeremiah.

Have you ever heard the confession that we come short of the glory of God in the church you attend? 

We all need to humble ourselves before God today.

Judah did not humble themselves before God, and  God sent them into captivity. 

I often wonder whether the Lord is getting ready to chastise us. 

 Beneath the cross I fain would take my stand.

The shadow of a mighty rock,  within a weary land;

A home within the wilderness,  a rest upon the way,

From the burning of the noontide heat  And the burden of the day.

O safe and happy shelter,  O refuge tried and sweet,

O trysting-place where heavens love  And heavens justice meet!

As to the holy Patriarch  That wondrous dream was given,

So seems my Saviour's Cross to me,  A ladder up to heav'n.

There lies beneath its shadow,  But on the farther side,

The darkness of an awful grave  That gapes both deep and wide;

And there between us stands the Cross,  Two arms outstretched to save,

Like a watchman set to guard the way  from that eternal grave. 

Upon that cross of Jesus  Mine eye at times can see

The very dying form of One  Who suffered there for me;

And from my smitten heart with tears  Two wonders I confess,

The wonder of His glorious love  And my  own worthlessness.

I take,  O Cross,  Thy shadow  For my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than The sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by,  To know no gain nor- loss,

My sinful self my only shame, 

My glory all the cross.

Author: Elizabeth C. Clephane, 1830-1869.

Special Thanks for Losinda, my own daughter.

Amen!