Do We Share Christ’s Shame?

© 2015 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Christian: Have you ever found yourself all alone on an issue? Have those from whom you expected support abandoned you? When they speak of behaviors which you know God condemns, do they simply call them “alternate lifestyles?” When you speak God’s truth by calling those lifestyles evil, are you blasted as “intolerant and hateful?” Do they treat you as though you’re from another planet? Worse yet do they mock you and shun you? Do they forbid you to say such things and, threaten your job or life if you do?

Jesus told His disciples not to be surprised at this. He said,

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

How did the world show its hatred of Christ the Savior? Recently, my wife and I have been preparing a stirring musical selection from Handel’s Messiah for the Easter program at our Bible Chapel. As with Handel’s entire oratorio, this selection quotes God’s Word.

“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).

The Romans were masters at doing all of these things in the most torturous manner imaginable. His back became like a plowed field and His face unrecognizable.

“The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows” (Psalms 129:3).

“As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:” (Isaiah 52:14).

He suffered all of these tortures, and more, at the hands of wicked men, including some that would later trust in Him as Savior.

Most of the time we never spend much time thinking about the great price it took the pure Lamb of God to redeem His people. Oh we admit it was awful, but its full impact never sinks in. Perhaps we need to pause long enough to become incredibly thankful for what He did. His blood sacrifice was for the sins of His fallen people. He, Himself, was the sinless Messiah, God the Son.

Will we tell others about the victorious sufferings of our Savior who died and rose again? If they are never moved to faith in Him, they will be doomed forever.

Will we take our stand for Him, no matter what?

 

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