So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Have you ever done something of which you were
latter ashamed of? I think most of us, if we are honest, will have to
confess that this is true …often we carry the guilt and shame of past actions
and or thoughts around with us as if it is some sort of “negative badge of honor”.
Other times the shame of past words, actions
and thoughts linger; and we just wish we could jettison them from our lives
once and for all.
Often, even after we have come to believe in
Jesus Christ and are immersed in his grace, we still feel the sting of shame,
we succumb to the flesh or have a momentary lapse of judgment, or whatever, and
the next thing we know, thoughts, words or actions are coming forth that we
latter are ashamed of and we feel as if no one would want us or want to be near
us….We feel ashamed.
Well, whatever we have done or whatever is in
our past that hounds us, whatever we are ashamed of; whatever it is, for
whatever reason we are ashamed of who and what we are.
What we might, in the view and estimation of
humanity be something for which we find ourselves withdrawing and cowering in
our shame, whatever our limitation(s) whatever we are ashamed of…let me tell
you this, Jesus loves you and understands you!
At times we tend to think of Jesus’ sensibilities
being easily offended by our brokenness. Well, Jesus is not.
Jesus knows and understands exactly who
and what we are, yet loves us and accepts us in spite of our selves.
“For we do not have a high
priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has
been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin”. Heb: 4:15
“But God demonstrates his own
love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rm: 5:8
We did not have to become "good enough" to experience salvation, it came while we
still lived our lives in ignorance of, or avoidance, of Jesus Christ. Our
God has reached out to you and all of us and has, and is, and will include
you and we all into the love of God.
But we might protest that “there are things that I am ashamed of in my life”…Well,
in spite of our shame in our ourselves, Jesus is not ashamed of you or me. Nor
is Jesus ashamed of his relationship with or his association with us.
“Both the one who makes men holy and those who
are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them
brothers.
“He says, "I will declare your name to my
brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises. And
again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am
I, and the children God has given me." Heb: 2:11-13
Jesus declares that he is there with us
and is unashamed to be so. Jesus is grateful to God the
Father for us. This for us is nothing to be ashamed
of.
Benediction: May we each and all praise our Lord
Jesus, who is not now nor ever will be ashamed to be called our brother, today,
tomorrow and forevermore. Amen
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Rev. Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma
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