The Final Week of Jesus' Life: An 8-Day Holy Week Devotional SeriesSample

Crucifixion - The Weight of Shame

Earlier this week, we read about how the people worshipped and praised Jesus as he rode the donkey into Jerusalem on Sunday. But now it’s Friday.

As we consider the crucifixion, we can only imagine Jesus’ agony, as well as the suffering of his mother and his followers. Surely every dream they ever had was dying a slow, devastating death, and the sorrow and grief felt unbearable. We can ponder much in this passage, but we will concentrate on this: the shame of Calvary.

What a dreadful emotion shame is. Jesus was stripped and nailed to a cross, a place of death for common criminals. He was subjected to the physical shame, emotional shame, and most of all the spiritual shame, as his Father turned away from the sin that Jesus bore. Jesus, the beloved Son of God, who knew such joy, love, and intimacy with his father, had to suffer the guilt of the sin of the entire world. This was the cup he had submitted to in the Garden of Gethsemane.

What utter humiliation, shame, and disgrace for Jesus, the perfect Son of God, to hang on a cross, suspended between heaven and earth. As he was dying, people passed by, insulting him, believing he was getting exactly what he deserved—a severe punishment (see Psalm 44:15). Hebrews 12:2 says, “Jesus…who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame….” Isaiah 50:6 records these prophetic words, “ I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who plucked out my beard, I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.”

Bernard of Clairvaux, a twelfth-century monk, penned the words of the hymn, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded.” His words poetically express his musings on the death of the Lord Jesus Christ:

“O sacred head, now wounded

With grief and shame weighed down

Now scornfully surrounded, with thorns, thy only crown…”

So often we hesitate to stop here in the crucifixion story. It’s a dark story, depressing and sorrowful. And we want to hurry on to the happy ending. But let us stay “here” today. Does Jesus’ death not deserve serious reflection on our part, since it was for us that He suffered and died? It would do us good to quietly ponder this today.

Prayer for Today: Lord Jesus, to say “thank you” for the cross is so pitifully inadequate. There is truly no way to express enough gratefulness for your sacrifice. I see your sorrow and shame, and understand you willingly took my place. Your life was not taken, but freely given. How indescribably grateful I am for your abounding love and mercy. Amen.

Photo: Adobe, alexandarilich/ stock.adobe.com, used with permission