Shame

This evening our ancient word is shame. Not a very pleasant word. Whether you have been ashamed or have brought shame to others it is a word that none of us like to think about. In both the OT and the NT the word shame appears in many forms as you can see from the slides. Rather than going and breaking down the definition of these words like has been our pattern, I want to spend our time talking about the idea of being ashamed.

Unfortunately being ashamed or feeling embarrassed or guilty because of one’s actions is most often a consequence of sin.

Although the word shame is not present in the text we are first introduced to the idea of shame from the first couple, Adam & Eve, in Genesis 3 when they sinned against God.

Can you imagine the shame and regret Adam and Eve lived with after their sin? Not only were they ashamed of their nakedness once their eyes were opened but they also must have been ashamed of the fact that they spoiled the perfect creation God had made. Adam and Eve were in a perfect world, they had perfect bodies with no sickness or disease, they had close fellowship with God. But when they chose to sin they forfeited all of these and other blessings not only for them but for all mankind.

I imagine that Adam and Eve must have lived out their lives on earth with much shame over their loss of blessings, innocence and their home in the Garden.

Adam and Eve weren’t the only ones who felt ashamed. All throughout the Bible we see people who are ashamed because of sin in their life. in the NT I am reminded of the shame that the apostle Peter felt after he denied Jesus three times.

Adam and Eve weren’t the only ones who felt ashamed. All throughout the Bible we see people who are ashamed because of sin in their life. In the NT I am reminded of the shame that the apostle Peter felt after he denied Jesus three times.

This story found in John 18 although we don’t see the word shame or ashamed in the text I believe that this story clearly demonstrates for us the picture of the pain that shame can cause in ones life while at the same time showing us how to overcome the regret and pain that comes from our shame.

In John 13 during the passover feast Peter tells Jesus that he would lay down his life for him but then Jesus says this in verse 38. John 13:38.

John 13:38 ESV

Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Jesus says, no Peter unfortunately you are going to deny me and then in chapter 18 we see that that is exactly what happened.

In John 18 fearing that he might loose his life, Peter denies ever knowing Jesus. After denying him for the third time and realizing that Jesus was right Peter felt very ashamed and Luke’s account of this story tells us that Peter went and wept bitterly. Luke 22:62.

All of us here today if we truly understand who Jesus is and what he has done for us we have felt ashamed before. We have been ashamed for sins that we have commited against Christ and others.

But, have you ever felt ashamed like Peter? Have you ever felt so guilty because of something you have done that you find yourself carrying around your shame to the point that it has weighed you down so much that you can’t even move. Have you ever been so weighed down with guilt that you finally reached your breaking point and all you can do is cry, like Peter, probably so. Unfortunately, there may be many people here or watching today who still fill this way. You may be wondering what do I do with all my baggage and shame from past sins.

Thankfully, Peter’s story doesn't end here and for those out there who may be struggling with the guilt and shame of past sins, know that your story doesn't have to end there either.

In John chapter 21 Peter finds himself having breakfast with Jesus while there is no question that he had to of been still grieving over the fact that he had denied Jesus three times.

I imagine Peter sitting in silence as he ate the breakfast that Jesus prepared for him. And then as he finished Jesus turns to Peter and asks him the question that he was dreading but as we are going to see it was the question that Peter so desperately needed to hear.

Look with me at John 21:15.

John 21:15 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

With this question, Peter do you love me, Jesus opened up the wound that Peter had. The wound caused when he denied Jesus? By asking this question Jesus was exposing the sin of Peter and opening up the spiritual wound that threatened to kill Peter’s soul.

Why would Jesus open up the wound by reminding Peter of what he had done? Well, Its because Jesus loved Peter too much to allow him to live with the shame.

If Jesus wouldn’t have ever confronted Peter About his sin and shame he may have just lived with this quilt the rest of his life and would have possible not became the great apostle that he was.

Rather than letting Peter hide his sin Jesus by asking him the question, offers Peter a way to confront his sin and fix it.

Look with at John 21:15-17. Let’s look at this exchange with Jesus and Peter.

John 21:15–17 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Why does Jesus ask Peter three times if he loved him? Maybe it was to give Peter and opportunity to confess his faith in Jesus the same number of times he had earlier denied the Lord.

By asking Peter multiple time Jesus was helping Peter see that the most important thing for him, was to forget about the past and focus on loving the Savior.

How many times have we found ourselves in the same situation that Peter is in? How many times have we tried to hide our sin as if it never happened only to discover that by doing so things got worse for us?

When I think about how often times we try to run away from our shame or pretend that it never happened I am reminded of the Disney move the Lion King. After Simba’s father is killed what does Scar Simba’s uncle convince him to do? He convinces him to run away from his guilt. But thankfully after years of running Simba finds the courage to return home and face his past.

You see Satan is just like Scar. He wants us to run from our past guilt. As long as Satan can convince us to run from our guilt he has complete control over us. Just like Simba and more importantly like Peter, only when we face the truth can we find freedom from our guilt.

You see to many times when we find ourselves in a similar place as Peter we try to find the answers to the wrong question. Question like; was it my fault?; was my sin any worse that of others?; what damage was done by my sin?; Will others accept me back?; What made me do this?; The questions go on and on.

You see these questions are only distractions from the most important question. The most important question to answer is; do we love Jesus?

If we are able to answer yes as Peter did than we will be able to move forward and move past our shame.

Peter was able to move past his guilt and become a great Apostle. Peter was the one who preached the very first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost and he wrote the letter’s of 1 & 2nd Peter.

Peter was able to move past his shame because he loved Jesus and he loved him because he understood that He was forgiven and Jesus remembered his sin no more.

Peter understood that if he was willing to confront his sin God would forgive him. 1 John 1:9.

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Peter the very person who had so much shame for denying Christ later in life was able writes these words found in in 1 Peter 5:6-7.

1 Peter 5:6–7 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Peter was able to lay all his shame on Jesus because he loved him and understood that Christ loved Him and forgave him and so can we.

Romans 8:1 is a great comfort to any believer who struggles with leftover feelings of shame and regret: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We must remember that we are all sinners, but we are justified. We have a shameful past, but we have a better future because of Jesus.

Finally this evening we have seen that Jesus helps Peter and can help us overcome our shame. But once we have come to this understanding there is two more very important things that we must do.

Each time Peter answered Jesus’ question, Jesus gave him a mission. He said, tend my lambs, Shepard my sheep and tend my sheep. You see Jesus was willing to forgive Peter but he was reminding him that with forgiveness comes responsibility.

The same is true for us today. When Jesus forgives us of our sins He wants us to get back to work in His Kingdom. Jesus was reminding Peter that he has work to do and we see that played out in the book of Acts. So we too must remember that once we have been forgiven Jesus expects us to continue to do his will.

Jesus expects us to help others who are struggling just like we are. He expects us to help other come to love Jesus so they to can move past their shame.

Then finally, Jesus in verse 19 reminds Peter that there is one thing that he must continue to do.

John 21:19 ESV

(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Two simple words. Follow Me. Jesus used these two words to call Peter in the beginning of his relationship with Jesus and now he uses them again to bring Peter back to where he needs to be.

When Jesus tells Peter or us to follow him He is calling us to begin where we are at and begin walking in the direction of Jesus. No matter what you have done in life Jesus is asking you to simply follow him.

The Words Follow me remind us that Jesus is not interested in where we are in life or where we have been as much as he is about where we are going.

Jesus simple words Follow me allows us to begin fresh every day. These simple words help us move past our shame.