Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

We know that sin brings shame. A good example from Scripture to confirm this is found in the book of Genesis with Adam and Eve. If we go back to the garden of Eden, we know that when God created Adam and Eve, they were naked and unashamed (Genesis 2:25). But after falling into sin, their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked, and therefore they tried to cover their shame with fig leaves which they had sewn together (Genesis 3:7). However, God provided them with a covering of His choosing – animal skins. By this, we learn that a life had to be laid down as a sacrifice to provide a suitable covering for God’s people.

The good news for us, is that God has provided a perfect covering for us. Jesus is the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He willingly laid down His life as a sacrifice to save us from our sins. He took our sin, our guilt, our shame, and all the punishment for sin upon Himself when He went to the cross to die for us.

When we repent of our sins, the blood of our precious Lord Jesus (the spotless Lamb of God) blots out our sins, (Colossians 2:13-14 see Scripture below) thereby taking away our guilt, shame and condemnation. When we are born-again, the Lord gives us the garment of salvation to wear (Isaiah 61:10 see Scripture below) which covers our nakedness. Our sins have been forgiven and covered, and our shame has been taken away. This means that we are able to stand in the presence of the Lord – unashamed. Thank You Lord Jesus!

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Colossians 2:13-14 NKJV

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.

Isaiah 61:10 NKJV

As believers in Jesus, we choose to live a lifestyle of continual repentance. Meaning that if we sin, the Holy Spirit will convict us so that we can quickly repent and turn back to God, knowing that He will forgive us. One of the enemy’s strategies is to make us feel too ashamed to face God because of what we have done. But the good news for us, is that Jesus took our shame on the cross so that we don’t have to live with it.

In the book of Psalms, there are many Scriptures which are Messianic prophecies of Jesus.

(A Messianic prophecy means that men wrote these Scriptures under the guidance or inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but they were actually written about Jesus our Messiah. David wrote Psalm 69, but many of the things he wrote in Psalm 69 never actually happened to him. The writings were therefore prophecies about the coming Messiah – Jesus of Nazareth.)

The two Scriptures below (from Psalm 69) are considered as Messianic prophecies, and they reveal to us that Jesus took our shame upon Himself when He hung on the cross. Remember that because Jesus lived a perfect life of holiness, He had no reason to feel ashamed. It was our shame that He bore so that we could be set free. Thank You Lord! Because of what Jesus did for us, we can hand over any shame to God, and let it go.

Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face.

Psalm 69:7 NKJV

You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor.

Psalm 69:19 NKJV

Unfortunately things like humiliation and sexual abuse can also cause a person to live in continual shame because of what they have experienced. I understand this, because I too carried shame from my past, which I didn’t even realize I was carrying until God revealed it to me. I forgave the people involved, made the exchange and God healed me of all the shame and hurt I was carrying. He will do the same for you, but you have to give it to Him, let go of it, and allow Him to heal you and make you whole. It’s really that simple.

The last point that I would like to make about this exchange, is that Jesus took our shame so that we can share in His glory. But what does that even mean? I personally believe it means that we can be conformed into His image and likeness. Scripture tells us that God predestined us to be conformed into the image of Jesus:

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Romans 8:29-30 NKJV

Being conformed into the image of Jesus means that we live as Jesus lived and we walk as He walked. The Holy Spirit will take each one of us through a sanctification and purification process, removing blemishes and sin, so that we can live holy lives. Being conformed to the image of Jesus also means loving others as Jesus loves, and ultimately laying down our lives as a living sacrifice for the sake of others. It means bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and having a heart full of compassion for others. It also means living free from guilt, shame and condemnation.

As a final word of exhortation: If you are living with shame from your past, hand it over to the Lord and let go of it. Our Lord Jesus laid down His life so that we can be made whole in Him. Holding on to shame can hurt us in the long run and damage relationships with others. Jesus loves you and He doesn’t want you to hold on to things that will hinder your walk with Him. Choose to trust Him and choose to believe that He will fulfill every promise that He has made you, because He is faithful! Thank You Lord Jesus.