W hat does it mean when Jesus says He will be ashamed of us? Is that possible and can we avoid that?
Ashamed of Christ?
[1]Have you ever been caught at doing something you know you’re not supposed to do and felt shame and embarrassment? I know I have and probably most people have been ashamed at times, but one of the most frightening sayings Jesus ever said was “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:35). What did Jesus mean in saying that? Is it possible that we are ashamed of knowing and talking about Jesus Christ? If so, He may be ashamed of us someday, and not only in front of Jesus Christ, but in the presence of the “Father with the holy angels.” If you read on, we can find out how to never be ashamed of mentioning Jesus Christ and how we can avoid being ashamed of Christ in how we live our Christian faith.
Ashamed of the Gospel?
I know the Apostle Paul was anything but ashamed to speak of Jesus Christ, as he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16). First of all, notice the power of God is in the gospel (1 Cor 1:18). It is the power to save. Also, Paul was not ashamed to share the gospel, sharing Christ with the Gentiles and the Jews, even though he knew it would bring persecution. Paul would be more ashamed of not sharing the gospel if given the chance, but we know Paul was anything but ashamed of mentioning Jesus Christ.
Ashamed of Suffering?
When Paul was mentoring and preparing Timothy for the pastorate, he told him, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” (2 Tim 1:8). Once more Paul says the gospel has power, but he was not ashamed of Christ even while being imprisoned. In fact, he was in prison, not because he broke the law but because he was not ashamed of the gospel, which he says “is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Tim 1:12). He knew that the gospel was entrusted to him must be proclaimed, so Paul didn’t think twice about mentioning Christ at every opportunity he had. Do we?
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No Shame in Suffering
One reason that people may suffer shame is by their profession of Christ and yet living in disobedience to God’s Word. This is why the Apostle Paul said that “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thess 3:14). If we do obey, we need never be ashamed. Paul told Timothy to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). If we suffer for our faith, then that’s normal, and “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (1 Pet 4:16). What shame is there to suffer for knowing and sharing Christ? None at all. The Apostle John said that “we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls” (10:39). When Christ returns and we’re not ashamed of our faith, then John says we can have peace at Christ’s return, so his advice is to “abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” (1 John 2:28) in being ashamed.
Summary
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I am more ashamed when I don’t share Jesus Christ than when I do, for I know it is a necessary thing for the church in the Great Commission and the great commandment (Matt 28;18-20). That warning of being ashamed of being associated with Christ is serious, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). Who wants that kind of shame? Do you really want Christ to be ashamed of you at His second coming? Think about the consequences of keeping Christ to yourself. It’s unimaginable to have the greatest news in human history and not share it, so why be ashamed of the gospel? If we are ashamed of sharing the gospel, then really we’re ashamed of Christ. Let it never be so with us who believe.
Conclusion
There is no shame in proclaiming Jesus Christ as our Savior and no shame in sharing Jesus Christ with the lost. It is what we must all do while there is still yet time and Christ has not come again to judge the world in righteousness. That’s why I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.
Here is some related reading for you: What Does it Mean to Shrink Back at His Appearing? [4]
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.