{"id":983,"date":"2018-02-25T15:56:47","date_gmt":"2018-02-25T23:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=983"},"modified":"2018-02-25T16:05:10","modified_gmt":"2018-02-26T00:05:10","slug":"jesus-confronts-shame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/25\/jesus-confronts-shame\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus Confronts Shame"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-983-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Lent-2-02-25-18.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Lent-2-02-25-18.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Lent-2-02-25-18.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Second Sunday in Lent<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">February 25, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Mark 8:31-38<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Jesus Confronts Shame<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cGet behind me, Satan!\u201d<\/i> he said.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYou do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIf anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father\u2019s glory with the holy angels.\u201d<\/i><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/b>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cYou should be ashamed of yourself!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those are some of the most shattering words we can hear someone say to us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those are some of the most shattering words we can speak to someone.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What might cause us to hear or to speak those shattering words?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If someone gets caught cheating or stealing they might hear those words.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we see someone do something or hear someone say something that they know is going to hurt someone, we might speak those words.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter whether we are the one speaking the words or whether we are the one hearing the words, the words, \u201cYou should be ashamed of yourself!\u201d strike at the very core of our being.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The power of those shattering words is difficult to describe, but easy to feel.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Our sermon text for today gives us the opportunity to look at the subject of shame from a very specific perspective.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our theme for today is:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Jesus Confronts Shame.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let\u2019s look at two things this morning.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, let\u2019s see how Jesus confronts the shame of the cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then, let\u2019s see how Jesus confronts the shame that we are tempted to feel because of the cross.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Before we turn to our text let\u2019s take just a moment to look at the larger context in which we find these words.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In Mark 8:27-30 we find Peter\u2019s bold confession of faith concerning Jesus, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYou are the Christ.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>From the Gospel of Matthew we know that Peter\u2019s confession of faith is the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201crock\u201d<\/i> upon which Jesus builds His Church\u2014 the Church which not even the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cgates of Hades\u201d<\/i> will ever overcome.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the opening verses of our text Mark then tells us that Jesus went directly from that strong confident proclamation of faith to something His disciples did <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>want to hear.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Mark writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The original Greek here is a little more forceful than what we find in the English. Very literally Jesus said to His disciples, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIt is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">necessary<\/b> for the Son of Man to suffer\u2026to be rejected&#8230;to be put to death\u2026and to rise.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus\u2019 suffering, death and resurrection were not optional!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus\u2019 suffering, death and resurrection were not debatable!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus\u2019 suffering, death and resurrection were <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">necessary<\/i><\/b><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> <\/i>\u2014 absolutely necessary for our salvation!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Peter, who had just made that glorious confident confession of faith, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYou are the Christ\u201d<\/i> was absolutely stunned by what Jesus was saying.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In fact, it seems that when Peter heard the words <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csuffer,\u201d \u201crejected\u201d<\/i> and <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cput to death\u201d<\/i> in the very same sentence with, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIt is necessary\u201d<\/i> he was <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">so<\/b> stunned that he completely missed the words <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cand after three days rise again.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>So what did Peter do?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>True to form, Peter took it upon himself to take Jesus aside and <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cbegan to rebuke him.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, Peter <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cscolded\u201d<\/i> the Son of God for what He was teaching His disciples!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Why, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why did Peter rebuke Jesus for so plainly talking about His suffering, death and resurrection?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because Peter had a far different vision and a far grander goal in mind for Jesus.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Like many of God\u2019s people Peter envisioned an unparalleled earthly glory and an unmatched earthly power for God\u2019s Messiah, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe Christ.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Rejection by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law would lead to death at the hands of the Romans which automatically meant\u2014 crucifixion!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There was nothing more shameful than death by crucifixion.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To be beaten and scourged within an inch of your life, stripped of almost all your clothes, nailed to a cross and propped up on a hill so that everyone could mock you as you died a slow agonizing death\u2014 well, as far as Peter was concerned that was the very definition of shame not victory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Jesus\u2019 response to Peter\u2019s rebuke was swift and clear:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cGet behind me Satan!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus instantly recognized that while the words of rebuke may have come out of Peter\u2019s mouth, the author of those words was none other than Satan himself.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Nothing would have pleased Satan more than to have Jesus focus on the shame of the cross and begin to think that maybe it was <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not<\/b> <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cnecessary\u201d<\/i> for the Son of Man to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csuffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If Satan could use Peter to get Jesus to change His mind and avoid the shame and the agony of the cross\u2014 then Satan would win!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Praise God that Satan\u2019s temptation didn\u2019t work, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Praise God that Jesus was not only willing to confront the shame of the cross, but He was willing to accept and endure the shame of the cross!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And why was Jesus willing to accept and endure the shame of the cross?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A clear and concise answer to that question is given to us in Hebrews 12:2, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cLet us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus was willing to accept and endure the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshame\u201d<\/i> of the cross because He knew the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cjoy\u201d<\/i> that it would bring for both Him and for us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshame\u201d<\/i> of the cross was far outweighed by the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cjoy\u201d<\/i> that Jesus would experience as He completed His Father\u2019s Plan of Salvation for this world and then sat down in triumphal victory at <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe right hand of the throne of God.\u201d <\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>The <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshame\u201d<\/i> of the cross was far outweighed by the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cjoy\u201d<\/i> that both Jesus and we would experience as He welcomed us into heaven as the forgiven redeemed children of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, my friends, the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cjoy\u201d<\/i> of our salvation is what led Jesus to willingly accept and endure the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cshame\u201d<\/i> of the cross.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">While there is so much more that we could say on this, let\u2019s move on to the second part of our sermon.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let\u2019s see how Jesus confronts the shame that we are tempted to feel\u2014 because of His cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But what does that even mean?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What shame might you and I encounter in our life because of the cross of Jesus Christ?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let\u2019s turn back to our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As he did with Peter, Satan might tempt us to be ashamed of a Savior who <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">had<\/i><\/b> to suffer and <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">had <\/b>to die.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How could this be a source of shame for us?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at it this way:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead of seeing sin for what it is\u2014 shameful acts of rebellion against the God of heaven\u2014 the devil, the world and our own sinful flesh want us to think that our sin is not all that serious and certainly not <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">that<\/b> serious (Pointing to the cross).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>These three great enemies of our soul are constantly trying to convince us that we have the freedom to think and to believe whatever<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"> we<\/b> consider to be right and to live our life in whatever way makes <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">us<\/b> happy\u2014 even if it means that we \u201csin.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, instead of depending on a Savior who had to suffer and die <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for<\/b> us to pay for <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">our<\/b> sins, the devil, the world and our own sinful flesh want us to believe that as long as someone lives a relatively decent life and as long as they at least try to do some good in their life that should be enough to get them into heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sadly, Satan is still very good at tempting people to think that it is \u201cshameful\u201d to say that the only way to be saved is through faith in a Savior who died a \u201cshameful\u201d death on a cross in our place.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Now look at verses 34-37 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here Jesus addresses the priorities that we have in our life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The priorities that <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">Jesus<\/b> wants us to have center on denying ourselves, taking up whatever crosses we may encounter as a child of God living in a sinful world and following Jesus wherever He might lead us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature our priorities are just the opposite, aren\u2019t they!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature our priorities center on indulging ourselves with the pleasures that this world has to offer, seeking to have the most comfortable life possible no matter what it might cost, and forging our own path through this world.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How do the priorities of our life tie in with the subject of shame?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what our Lord says to us in the closing verse of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIf anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father\u2019s glory with the holy angels.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Have we ever been too ashamed to tell someone, \u201cI\u2019m a Christian and I don\u2019t do that!\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have we ever been too ashamed to ask someone to clean up their language when they are talking with us because the words they are using are offensive not only to us but to our God?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have we ever been too ashamed to stand up for God\u2019s Truth and tell someone, \u201cYes, I do believe that the Bible <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">is<\/i><\/b> the holy, inspired, inerrant Word of God from beginning to end!\u201d?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Have we ever been too ashamed to tell someone that what they believe or what they are doing is wrong\u2014 <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>because <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">we <\/b>think it\u2019s wrong, but because <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">God<\/b> says it is wrong?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When you stop to think about it, my friends, Satan is very sneaky when it comes to tempting us to be ashamed of Jesus and His holy Word as we set priorities in our lives.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Satan knows our weaknesses and he is never shy about exploiting those weaknesses!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">How do we combat Satan\u2019s temptations to be ashamed of Jesus and His Word?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In a nutshell, we lift up our eyes to the cross.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, we lift up our eyes to the cross and remember Jesus <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwho for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When we stop to both contemplate and appreciate the shame that the Son of God was willing to endure to save us from our sins, that motivates us to strive to overcome the temptation to be ashamed of Jesus and His Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And if we do find that we have been ashamed of Jesus and His Word again we lift up our eyes to the cross, we humbly ask our Lord to forgive us and we relish the joy that is ours as Jesus wraps His loving arms around us and says, \u201cYou <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are<\/b> forgiven, My child!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are<\/b> forgiven!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Second, whenever we are confronted with the temptation to be ashamed of Jesus and His holy Word we need to consciously take a step back and look at the \u201cbig picture.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As our Lord Himself said in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWhat good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This world has a seemingly endless parade of pleasure and treasures for us to enjoy\u2014 but at what cost?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If the cost of enjoying the things the world offers to us is the eternal salvation of our soul then we need to follow the example of our Savior and say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cGet behind me, Satan!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The \u201cbig picture,\u201d my friends, includes asking ourselves what Jesus will say to us, what He will say to me when He returns to this earth <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cin his Father\u2019s glory with the holy angels.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cShame on you!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those are indeed some of the most shattering words we could ever hear or speak.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, there are times when it is necessary for us to speak or to hear those words.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My prayer this morning is that this portion of God\u2019s holy Word has indeed led all of us to think very seriously about the subject of shame.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>May God grant that as we watch our Savior willingly confront the shame of the cross in order to save us from our sins, that His cross will motivate us to <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">never<\/b> be ashamed of Jesus or His Word!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Lent-2-02-25-18.mp3\">Lent-2-02-25-18.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Second Sunday in Lent February 25, 2018 Mark 8:31-38 Jesus Confronts Shame &nbsp; He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.&nbsp; He spoke plainly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}