Despising the Shame

Easter is around the corner. Surely, one of the most exciting and intriguing of our holidays. It contains sunrise services, choral cantatas, warmer weather and sunshine, lilies, new beginnings, new clothes, family dinners—the pinnacle of Christian celebrations:  Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

But back up a few days (and a couple thousand years) and we encounter the days before Easter: times of misunderstanding, resistance, persecution, betrayal, desperate prayer, and finally the crucifixion—the apparent end of the ministry of Jesus.

But, in reality, the crucifixion was the goal set before Jesus from the beginning. He was born with the cross in mind. The writer of Hebrews records a very curious phrase about this aim and destination in chapter twelve:

. . . looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

Because of what would happen after the crucifixion (the resurrection and the defeat of sin, death, and hell), Jesus endured the cross, “despising the shame.” “Despising” from the Greek suggests “looking down upon”, “paying no regard to”, “seeing as detestable”, or “holding something in contempt.” It seems redundant that Jesus would regard “shame” as “detestable”. But, in other words, Jesus saw no positive value, or lightly valued the shame of the cross—even knowing the law.

“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 ESV

Jesus knew the stigma associated with the cross. He knew what an insult the crucifixion was; He knew how it appeared to repudiate all that He had come to do; He knew the cross would cause many on the fringe to turn away from Him. But, a servant serves; and a true servant serves even at personal expense.

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 ESV

The cross revealed the price Jesus was willing to pay on our behalf. He did not value His own life: He did not value His own reputation; He did not value His own safety or comfort. In fact He despised all of those things when measured against the value of what His serving would accomplish in the hearts and lives of people.

The cross wasn’t the first example of His servant mentality, either.

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. John 13:3-5 ESV

The God of the universe—the one through whom the universe was created—took on human form, and suffered the indignities of a poor laborer and itinerant preacher. He washed feet—the work of the lowest servant.

Further, Jesus encountered resistance, harm, betrayal, and death at the hands of those He was hoping to rescue. He was cursed by the religious and the masses as He was crucified. Jesus, the Christ, who could have transformed earth and all of its inhabitants to dust at any time, subjected Himself to serving. He served those who appreciated Him; He served those who followed Him; and He served those who rejected Him (in hopes they would one day follow, too). In spite of all the reasons for not doing so, Jesus served.

We have an incredibly vivid example of what Christianity looks like by our Master’s example. Christians serve. They serve humbly, willingly, wholeheartedly, and well until they are called home. Living humbly does not mean living poorly; it doesn’t mean living weakly; it doesn’t mean harboring negative feelings about one’s value. Living humbly means living “in Christ”, in obedience to Christ and being willing to do ANYTHING He calls you or I to do. Living humbly means obeying, embracing our calling, however great or small, despising the circumstances and personal cost.

And we can do so (only) because of Easter! PTL! Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:6-10 ESV