Mark 8
January Memory Verse: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34 (NIV)
Is Jesus ashamed of me?
This might be a question that floats around in your mind when you sin. It could be a question you ask yourself when you feel like a failure or when everything in your life is chaotic. Be honest, you have asked yourself this question before in your life.
Well, let me help you navigate through the question. If you have a relationship with Jesus, He is not ashamed of you when you fail, sin, or struggle in life. He loves you. He died for you. And if you know Him as Savior and Lord, He is there to help you through sin and difficult times. He is not ashamed of you, He wants to restore you. A perfect example of this is Peter in the proceeding verses. Peter declares Jesus as the Christ (v. 29), but then turns around and rebukes Jesus (v. 32). Jesus was not ashamed of Peter and then cast him off (Jesus did compare Peter to Satan). But instead, Jesus corrected Peter (v. 34-37). And we know from Scripture that Peter was faithful to Jesus till the end of his life. To reiterate then, if you have a relationship with Jesus, He is not ashamed of you when you sin or fail, instead He wants to restore you.
But, we see in Mark 8:38, that Jesus is ashamed of some people. He is ashamed of the people who were/are ashamed of Him. Jesus died for the sins of the world. He loves the world. He desires for all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4). But when Jesus comes back a second time, He will be ashamed of the people who denied Him. It will be too late for them.
Discussion Questions: Would you want Jesus to be ashamed of you? If He is, who can you talk to about it this next week? If He is not, who in your life might need to hear this news?
By: Brice Stockton
Is Jesus ashamed of me?
This might be a question that floats around in your mind when you sin. It could be a question you ask yourself when you feel like a failure or when everything in your life is chaotic. Be honest, you have asked yourself this question before in your life.
Well, let me help you navigate through the question. If you have a relationship with Jesus, He is not ashamed of you when you fail, sin, or struggle in life. He loves you. He died for you. And if you know Him as Savior and Lord, He is there to help you through sin and difficult times. He is not ashamed of you, He wants to restore you. A perfect example of this is Peter in the proceeding verses. Peter declares Jesus as the Christ (v. 29), but then turns around and rebukes Jesus (v. 32). Jesus was not ashamed of Peter and then cast him off (Jesus did compare Peter to Satan). But instead, Jesus corrected Peter (v. 34-37). And we know from Scripture that Peter was faithful to Jesus till the end of his life. To reiterate then, if you have a relationship with Jesus, He is not ashamed of you when you sin or fail, instead He wants to restore you.
But, we see in Mark 8:38, that Jesus is ashamed of some people. He is ashamed of the people who were/are ashamed of Him. Jesus died for the sins of the world. He loves the world. He desires for all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4). But when Jesus comes back a second time, He will be ashamed of the people who denied Him. It will be too late for them.
Discussion Questions: Would you want Jesus to be ashamed of you? If He is, who can you talk to about it this next week? If He is not, who in your life might need to hear this news?
By: Brice Stockton
18 Comments
The people who were following Jesus were always looking for Him to do something for them. Feed us - show us a miracle - heal us. Give me - show me - provide for me... How many times am I just like them? Why do I follow Jesus? Because He is God or for what He’ll do for me?
Such an excellent point Tim. I often remind myself that God’s ways and purposes are higher than mine and that I want to love him and serve him because of what he has already done for me. Being expectant and having faith is important. Trusting in ALL his ways is as well (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Thanks for that reminder Tim! We need to follow Jesus because of who He is!
All my sin, guilt and shame was put on Jesus that I might find forgiveness! Amen.
Amen, Korbet!
If anyone was raised in a similar home situation to mine, you probably struggle still with this. I am used to being talked harshly to when I fail and miss the mark. I am used to knowing the disappointment is already there for my dad before I even get home. That's the beauty though. We have a Heavenly Father that shatters expectations and is perfect in His Fatherhood. He disciplines us (Hebrews 12). He does not condemn us (Romans 8). So, my prayer is for anyone else that struggles with this is that the Father would completely reshape who we think He is and help us to understand our sonship as through Jesus.
Thank you so much for this comment Jordan! What an encouragement it is!
Thanks for sharing that, dude! What an awesome reminder
Good reminder to be renewing our minds in the gospel daily!
Oh how I needed this encouragement this morning! Loved it...
That's awesome, Joey!
You can definitely see the frustration that Jesus had with the disciples. However, he remained patient with them, and continued to teach and mold them. What a great example for us as we seek to disciple others! We should be patient with younger believers, because Jesus was patient with those he was teaching, and it produced some of the most loyal and effective disciples the world has ever seen. We were all new believers at one point, so we should continue to love and be patient with those we disciple.
And this is why discipleship is so important! Thanks for this, Scottie!
"Do you still not understand?" Mark :
This resonates with me so much, because I am constantly having to remind myself to look at things through God's eyes, with spiritual eyes - not my own. A constant battle. But He is so faithful when we call on Him for wisdom.
Thank you so much for this Lindsay! Praying this helps others struggling with the same things!
Thanks for this encouragement, Brice!
Seeing how Jesus was so faithful in His relationship with Peter is always so encouraging!!!
Powerful message!