From shame to grace: How Jesus turns humiliation into healing

Matthew 27:29b “... And kneeling before Him, they mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’”

We’ve all experienced the sting of being made fun of. The shame and embarrassment of being the butt of someone’s joke can wreak havoc on our hearts and minds. Jesus knows that feeling. While He endured unimaginable physical pain for us, He also bore deep emotional pain. As Hebrews 4:15 reminds us, “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin.”

I have had quite a few moments of humiliation in my life – the kinds of situations that make you want to dig a hole, crawl into it, and die. Sometimes these have occurred because of a mistake I made. Other times they have been because someone chose to make fun of me.

One of the hardest seasons was during my middle school years. At the end of sixth grade, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, which meant wearing a full-body back brace throughout middle school and part of high school. This plastic girdle, held together by metal rods, had to be worn 23 hours a day. It was physically uncomfortable, and it made me stand out in ways I wished I didn’t.

I clearly remember the day that a young high school boy laughed over my strange “shape” caused by the metal bars under my clothing. The shame I felt still burns. Over time, I learned to laugh along with the jokes about my apparatus. But when I was alone, I cried silently from the humiliation of it all.

Looking back, those moments help me understand Jesus’ trials in a deeper way. He didn’t just suffer on the cross, He endured relentless mocking from sinful men. It’s almost unthinkable: the Creator of the universe stripped, ridiculed and jeered at. The One worthy of all honor and praise chose to bear the full weight of our shame.

Why? To restore our relationship with the Father and open heaven’s doors for us. He understands when others mock us. He feels our pain. And because of His sacrifice, we can boldly enter God’s throne room to find mercy and grace in our time of need.

When I reflect on my younger self and the embarrassment I carried, I see how those experiences shaped me. They taught me empathy. They gave me a small glimpse of what Jesus endured for me. And they deepened my gratitude for the privilege of bringing my hurts to the Throne of Grace.

What about you? Have you carried the weight of someone’s cruel words or laughter? Jesus understands. He offers you refuge, healing and wholeness. Come to Him today. Pour out your pain and receive the mercy and grace He so freely gives.