Empty! Slaying Shame

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ and he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep’”—John 21:17

Shame. We have all had to deal with shame at one time or another. We know all too well our tendency to give into sin and turn from God. We promise not to do it again, but just a short time later we find ourselves doing what we just said we wouldn’t do.

The apostle Peter knew shame. After all, at the Last Supper, after Jesus said that everybody else would desert Him, Peter maintained that he wouldn’t. As a matter of fact, just to make himself clear, he said that not only would he not desert Jesus, he would die for Him. Such was Peter—bold, faithful, loud-mouthed, and courageous.

We know, though, that his zeal was short-lived, and just a few hours later he denied three times even knowing Jesus. It was immediately after the third denial that the prophesied rooster crowed. As the sound of the rooster rang in his ears, we read that Jesus “turned and looked at Peter”—Luke 22:61. Peter remembered Jesus’ words and went outside and wept bitterly (Luke 22:62).

Peter’s shame was immense, like a scarlet letter on his soul. And like Peter, we have our own shame to deal with. We may not have denied knowing Jesus as Peter did, but we have denied His Lordship over our lives by giving ourselves to all kinds of sin, receiving the bitter companion of shame as a result.

Apart from Christ’s healing forgiveness, we can’t hide from shame. It is always with us, reminding us what we have done. It’s far different from conscience. Conscience can be good or bad, continually reminding us of a standard that we need to uphold. A good conscience enables us to feel at ease for doing something right rather than something wrong, while a bad conscience let’s us know that something wrong was done. Shame is what comes after one violates one’s conscience. Shame is the knowledge of not only having done wrong, but the painful reality of living with the consequences which came as a result of it.

Peter was ashamed of denying the Lord, which was all too obvious after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. In one of Peter’s final interactions with Jesus, we see them having breakfast together. Jesus asks him a simple question, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” Peter responded, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Jesus responded, “Feed My lambs.” Jesus asked a second question, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter responded again in the affirmative, and Jesus said, “Tend My sheep.” Jesus asked the question a third and final time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me.” Hurt, Peter replied, “Yes, Lord; You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My sheep.”

Peter denied the Lord three times, and Jesus’ questions were used to restore Peter three times. Jesus wanted to rid Peter of his shame by reminding him that our love for Him covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Our shame was dealt with on the cross, and His resurrection gave us hope. Jesus restored Peter to service by asking him three questions that revealed his heart, and then He recommissioned him to spiritual shepherding.

How about you? Have you taken your sin and shame to the risen Christ? Or are you letting it hinder you from Christian service? Don’t stay in a state of shame! Confess your sins to Christ who will forgive and restore all of those who come to Him in repentance and faith! Do it today! Amen.