Did Jesus feel shame?
Question:
Hi brother Jeffrey,
A friend of mine from our congregation wrote a short article in which he stated Jesus felt shame. He used Matthew 23:37-39, where Jesus laments over Jerusalem. He said Jesus was ashamed of Jerusalem. I don’t believe this to be true. My friend also stated that Jesus felt the guilt of our sins on Him at the crucifixion. I also don’t believe that to be true. Have you ever heard of this?
Thanks!
Answer:
Shame is "A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior, or a state of dishonor and disgrace." Jesus lived a sinless life. Having done no wrong, he had nothing to be ashamed of. Describing Jesus as our High Priest, the writer stated, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
The claim that Jesus became sinful while dying on the cross violates the fact that he was sinless. "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth" (I Peter 2:22). The claim is usually based on I Corinthians 5:21. See "Made to be Sin" for a detailed discussion of this passage. Instead, Jesus despised the shame of the cross. "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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). As Christians, we are called upon to do the same. "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name" (I Peter 4:14-16).
