12/31/2020 Ashamed of Jesus’ Teachings

12/31/2020 Ashamed of Jesus’ teachings

Mark 8:38 ” Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Have you ever been embarrassed of something or someone?  That’s what the word ashamed means.  You feel awkward or uneasy about doing something or being around someone.  Have you ever known someone in school that most of the kids didn’t like?  You wanted to go sit with him at the lunch table but knew if you did, the rest of the kids would not like you either.  You kept away.   You were ashamed of him. 

Maybe you decided to follow Jesus one day and His teachings, but then all of your relatives started to turn on you and hate you for doing it.  You decided you didn’t want to deal with everyone being upset with you, so instead, you turned away from Jesus.  If so, you were ashamed of Him.

It’s not my intention to disparage the blessed Apostle Peter, but at one time in His life, he did the same thing.

Matt 26:34   Jesus told Peter ” Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. “

Peter denied knowing Jesus because at that moment in his life, he was ashamed to know him.  Remember that when you decide to follow Jesus and His teachings, you are going to have people who don’t like you because they themselves don’t want to obey Jesus or His teachings.  

Sadly a lot of the same people today profess to be Christian themselves, or to believe in God.  In the days of Jesus, some Jews claimed that God was their father, yet some partook in His unwarrented crucifixion.  He was hated, but was NEVER ashamed in the teachings of His heavenly Father, even unto death.  He is our example to be bold and stand up for His Word, as He did.

People are unwilling today to preach God’s Word because they truly are ashamed.  When you are ashamed,  you want to keep away, or distance yourself from doing something.  it means to be deterred from doing something because you fear people will shame or ridicule you. That is what happened to Jesus at the cross.  

Matt 27:39   When Jesus was dying on the cross,…. ” And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads. And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself.  If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. ”  Remember that when Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, they wanted to kill Lazarus too!  They hated Him without a cause.  

Jesus is the Truth.  To be ashamed of Him and His teachings is to be ashamed of the truth.  As I have said many times the devil preaches lies, and appears to be an angel of light; but he hates Jesus’s teachings, and tries to get people in this world to disbelieve, and to disobey them.  He wants you to believe a lie, because he is a liar and the father of lies.  

The Apostles were not ashamed of the truth.

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the greek.”

Being ashamed is to be deterred, which means you are prevented from doing something because you are afraid or fearful of difficulty or danger resulting from your beliefs or choices.  You may be afraid of entering into persecution, even amongst your close relatives.

People are persecuted each day for preaching the truth and doctrines of Jesus.  When you are persecuted it means that others harass or punish you in a manner designed to injure or grieve you because of your Christ centered beliefs.  

Luke 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.”

These reactions from others bring a great blessing from God.  One cannot enter into these blessings if you are too fearful about taking a stand for Jesus.  

1 John 3:13   ” Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  “

As I have said many times, there are many people today who profess the Christian faith, but don’t believe in Christ’s Word or what he taught.  2000 years ago Jesus preached the Word to people who claimed to believe in God but many were rejecting Him.  The same is happening today by Christians who deny Christ and his Word.  This is why one must never be ashamed of God’s Word, because it is a light unto our path, and to those around us.

2 Tim 1:8 ”  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; “

When you are ashamed, you become hesitant to do something.  You stop or pause a course of action and become reluctant to speak.  When reluctant, you are unwilling to do something; or you choose not to do something because you fear repercussions. 

Paul wanted the church to pray for him for boldness.  

Eph 6:19-20 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

If you are not ashamed, you will speak boldly.  Bold means fearless, brave, and confident,

Phil 1:20   “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness , as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether I be by life, or by death.”

Paul was not ashamed at all in the teachings of Jesus.

2 Tim 1:12 ” For the which cause I also suffer these things : nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.”

Neither were Peter or John ashamed. 

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” 

The disciple onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul and what he taught.

2 Tim 1:16 ” The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain.”

Are you refraining your lips, or are you speaking God’s truth?

Ps. 40:9-10 “I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Are you taking a stand for Jesus and what He taught in scripture?  Are you ashamed today, or are you being bold for Him who died to save and forgive you?

in love

Eric