Public Shame that Led to Heavenly Triumph

Introduction

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. I know what the constitution says but I also know how flawed this system is, in which for every 8.2 people executed one person on death row has been exonerated. Nonetheless we say innocent until proven guilty but from what I’ve seen in this county it seems as if it’s been guilty until proven innocent.

If I was to say innocent until proven guilty that would probably be a very familiar statement for a lot of people in this audience on today. One of the most familiar parts of Christianity is the sacrifice that Jesus was on the cross of Calvary. While I am thankful for that sacrifice I want us to dig a little deeper than the sacrifice this morning. I want us to understand what that sacrifice truly is. It’s not just that sin is a moral failure and people are upset with themselves because they have made a mistake. Sin is challenging because shame is tough to live with. Shame makes one assume that the room is talking about them when no one is even thinking about them. Shame makes us think that people are looking at us when no one even noticed we walked in the room. Shame is reason why you show up after communion and leave during the invitation. Shame is the reason that the young sister has not been back to church since everyone found out that she got pregnant. Shame is the reason that the brother shows up to funerals but doesn’t come to worship. Shame is the reason that some of the greatest minds have been reduced to motivating you on social media when in all actuality they should in someone’s pulpit this morning.

Shame is the reason people have taken plea bargaining deals instead of fighting for their innocence in a country where public opinion has made space for a corrupt system to put away black and brown people even on death row, yet we live in a country that says I’m innocent until proven guilty. If anyone knows about shame it’s Jesus.

Keep Silent

Sometimes in the face of shame the best thing you can do is keep silent. Matthew 26:62–63 “And the high priest arose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!””

I find it ironic in this text that they put Jesus under oath to seek false testimony for something wrong when He did nothing wrong. Nonetheless this is what hate does, hate will drive you to look at love with this incensed feeling of contempt. Only because it doesn’t fit what you want it to look like.

Understand the challenge here, they were upset with Jesus’ influence. See sometimes folks are mad because you’re doing something they wish they could do. They sought false testimony but found none, v. 60. See, the law required at least two consistent witnesses, Deuteronomy 17:6 “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.”

The real issue isn’t whether or not Jesus is right or wrong, we waste way to much time trying to prove ourselves right in front of people who have no power to justify us in the first place. God is our justifier! Why even expect a fair trial from people who never had any attention to provide you with justice in the first place.

I remained silent because I put my trust in God, essentially Jesus puts the proverbial ball back in the court of Caiaphas, it’s doesn’t matter what you think, do, or say at, God is in control and eventually you will see who holds all the power. But now the truth is at stake, you asked me if I’m the Christ! Well in that case…

Matthew 26:64 “Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.””

But hold fast because victory is coming.

Psalm 110:1 “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.””

Jesus Endured Shame On My Behalf

Historically it was customary for clothing to be torn at the hearing of blasphemy, it’s quite ironic that that treat Jesus in this way not knowing that He truly is the high priest. He doesn’t just endure shame on our behalf but within the confines of Jewish tradition as well.

Leviticus 21:10 “‘He who is the high priest among his brethren, on whose head the anointing oil was poured and who is consecrated to wear the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes;” - Not only did Jesus endure shame on our behalf but He endured shame in His rightful positionship.

Whatever shame you might be dealing with right now, understand Jesus endured it so you could endure it. Whatever the weight of your shame is, Jesus is able to handle. Whatever the weight of your problems are Jesus is able to carry. You’re carrying something that no longer belongs to you.

Hebrews 4:14–16 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

He Turns My Shame into Honor

Isaiah 61:7 “Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.”

I know you’re dealing with shame this morning. I know you’re dealing with some shame that preceded you. Some shame that you were born into. Some shame that had nothing to do with what you had done but maybe it’s the family that you were born into but understand that Jesus was ridiculed and beaten for that as well. You don’t have to be ashamed for that any longer. Jesus took all the shame. Today is the day that you get to walk in honor. I no longer have to walk in the shame of my mistakes but I can walk in the honor of what it means to belong to God. I belong to a God that saw my sin as a reason to love me even when this world cast me to the side.

When the world looked at my guilt and saw me as unworthy God said I’ve got a purpose for you, I’ve got a calling for you! There’s an adage that says one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, but I challenge that rhetoric this morning because you were never trash, what the world thought was trash was just a part of a story that led to a beautiful novel of redemption. I’m thankful that God saw love so powerful that He sent his son to be strong enough for me to carry my shame and turn it into triumph. Turn my shame into strategy that could be used for the my victory and the victory of other people around me. I no longer have to be a victim of my circumstance, I now longer have be caught in this cycle of trauma, I’ve loved by the King of this kingdom and I can bring my shame to throne and leave as an innocent possessor of victory this morning! He took the shame and turned it into salvation, He took the accusation and turned it into acceptance, He took the trauma and turned it into triumph!

Illustration: “The Ankle Monitor That’s Already Been Removed”

There are people who have served time… done what they did… faced the consequences…

And when they finally get released, sometimes they walk out with an ankle monitor.

Every step they take— it’s there.

A constant reminder: “You’ve been here before.” “You’ve done something.” “You’re still being watched.”

But here’s what’s interesting…

When that monitor is finally removed— when the system says, “You’re free”—

some people still walk like it’s on.

They still move carefully… still look over their shoulder… still live restricted…

Not because they’re still bound—

but because they got used to carrying it.

And that’s how a lot of us live with shame.

It’s not that you didn’t do anything— you know what you did.

It’s not that there wasn’t a consequence— you’ve lived through that.

But when Jesus went to the cross—

He removed the monitor.

And now here we are…

Still walking slow… still hiding… still sitting in the back… still leaving early…

Living like something is still attached to us—we can’t change the past. We can’t undo what’s already been done, we can’t erase the mistakes of yesterday. What we can do is trust that Jesus took the shame off of us.

when He already took it off.

Church, hear me—

It’s not that I was never guilty…

it’s that I’m no longer bound.

It’s not that I didn’t have a past…

it’s that my past no longer has me.

It’s not that I didn’t fall…

it’s that I don’t have to live like I’m still down.

Because when Jesus endured the cross—

He didn’t just deal with my sin…

He lifted the weight of my shame.

He didn’t just forgive me…

He freed me.

So why are you still walking like it’s on you?

Why are you still carrying what He already removed?

Why are you still living restricted when grace already made you free?

Today…

take a step like it’s gone.

Lift your head like it’s gone.

Walk in here—and walk out of here—

like the weight has been lifted. “Because Jesus didn’t just die so you could be forgiven— He died so you could be free. And if He took it off of you… stop living like it’s still on you.”

You don’t get to determine my guilt! Jesus removed my guilt! I’m innocent because Jesus died for my sins! The world doesn’t determine my innocence.