Consider Jesus

Erik Raymond wrote a book, He Is Not Ashamed, which began in this way: “Imagine if we gathered together all of the believers throughout history and lined them up for a massive family photo. Whom would we see? What kinds of people would be there? We may be surprised.

“Dotting the horizon of this picture, we’d find people with unflattering stories. Some are known as the chief of sinners, the sinful woman, the thief on the cross, and the prostitute. We’d also see those who were overlooked and disregarded by society. We’d find weak people unable to give God anything. We’d even see those who wore the uniform of opposition to God. Here in the portrait of grace, we’d find a multitude of misfits. It would be quite the picture.

“If this were your family, would you hang it on the wall or hide it in the attic? Now zoom in closer. Focus on the middle of the picture. Jesus is there. Seems out of place, doesn’t he? There, in this panorama of redemption, is Jesus, the perfect Son of God, wedged shoulder to shoulder with people marked by their depravity. Jesus identifies with men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds. Bearing the scars that narrate their painful stories and sinful histories, they surround Jesus.

“At first glance, we might think that Jesus doesn’t belong with people like this. What business does majesty have with outcasts? But poring over the Scriptures, we see something else. In this family photo, Jesus may seem out of place, but he’s exactly where he belongs. Even more, he’s right where he wants to be. Instead of being ashamed of them, he calls them family. Jesus wouldn’t hide his family picture. He’d hang it on the wall.

Today, we launch a new summer series. For the next few weeks, we have one simple goal: to consider Jesus and the great love He has for sinners like us. We’re hoping to “wow” you with Jesus. He’s the point. As you know, we’ve been spending some time this year thinking about the foundational truths on which the Christian faith is built. Jesus is the foundation, along with the teachings of the apostles and prophets. So, we’ve laid out some basics of what it means to follow Him as disciples and to follow Him in community life. In the church, we’re brought into a family of families. So, thinking about how the good news about Jesus informs this will be a worthy pursuit for us. 

To get there, I’m launching this series today in the book of Hebrews. We have some amazing verses in this book about Jesus. But, listen to how the book opens: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” 

Hebrews was written with a very specific purpose in mind: “To encourage the Jewish churches, scattered throughout the Roman Empire, who were in danger of turning back from their new faith, through a powerful “word of encouragement”—a powerful argument progressively unfolding through an alternating pattern of exposition and exhortation in five sermons, deeply rooted in the Old Testament —to progress, through their difficult cultural situation and impending crisis, toward full maturity.” We define this “word of encouragement” as describing the Hebrews’ author used the term word of exhortation, in 13:22, to define his entire letter; it carries both the idea of a word of encouragement AND a word of exhortation. The structure of the letter is five expositions followed by five exhortations or encouragements.

Today, we’re going to dig into a section in Hebrews 2, so let’s look at that together. Let’s read Hebrews 2:10-13. 

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers;

In the midst of the congregation, I will sing your praise.”

13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

(This is God’s Word; thanks be to God)

Verse 11 is the linchpin of this entire series. I hope you can see what God’s word is saying: Jesus is the point. He is not ashamed to call us family!

Let’s begin by connecting our passage to the concept of “household” we’ve been seeing. This big section closes with: "We are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belongs to hope" (3:6). Jesus unashamed commitment to us in 2:11 (shared source, brothers/sisters) becomes immediately about church life — we are the house Christ is building. The “non-shame” of Jesus toward individuals is inseparable from His claim on the community.

Then, as we see the bigger context of 2:11, notice where 2:11 sits in the argument:

As I mentioned, Hebrews is structured as five alternating exposition/exhortation pairs. Heb 2:11 sits in Exposition 2 (2:5–3:6), which follows immediately after the first warning against drifting (Exhortation 1: 2:1–4). The logic of that sequence:

- Don't drift (2:1–4)

- Why not? Because Christ entered fully into human experience and publicly claims solidarity with those he sanctified — he is not ashamed to call them brothers (2:11)

- The one who calls you brother is the same one who blazed the trail through suffering to maturity

The comfort of 2:11 isn't decoration layered on top of the argument. It is the argument. Christ's non-shame is the theological ground for why readers like us should not walk away.

There are also some amazing OT quotes surrounding 2:11

Exposition 2 (this broader section around 2:11) has five direct OT quotes — and 2:11 is the pivot between them:

- Psalm 8:4–6 (before 2:11): "What are human beings that you are mindful of them... crowned with glory and honor" — a creation psalm; humans placed over creation, greater than angels in God's design. Christ is the *quintessential human* — what humanity was designed to be. The incarnation isn't condescension; it's restoration. NT Scholar Doug Moo nearly busts out in praise: "Our author applies Psalm 8 to Christ based on seeing him as a representative, or quintessential, human: Jesus is what a human was truly designed to look like."

- Psalm 22:22 (immediately after 2:11): Christ speaks in his own voice — "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you." The non-shame is not private. It is active, public solidarity within the gathered community.

- Isaiah 8:17–18 (following): "I will put my trust in him" and "Here am I and the children God has given me." Christ identifies with his people in the posture of faith and dependency.

Another context piece is the three-part shame arc across Hebrews. There are only two uses of "not ashamed" in Hebrews — plus one explicit use of "shame" at the letter's climax:

1. 2:11 — Christ is not ashamed to call them brothers (solidarity with his people at the argument's opening)

2. 11:16 — God is not ashamed to be called their God (said of the faith heroes who held promises they didn't fully receive)

3. 12:2 — Christ endured the cross, disregarding its shame (the non-shame is enacted through bearing the cross's shame)

This is a structural spine: divine solidarity-as-non-shame, opening the letter's argument (2:11), framing the faith hall of fame (11:16), and enacted at the cross (12:2).

When Eric Raymond helps us envision a “family photo,” then he is spot on. The Bible clearly shows that Jesus isn’t ashamed of us. And, we’re also seeing that it carries a lot of weight. The photo is hung on the wall in the middle of a letter calling people not to walk out the door or give up on Jesus. Christ, not being ashamed of His people, is the reason to stay. So quickly today, let’s consider 3 reasons that Jesus is not ashamed of His people…

A) He’s covenanted with us.

Christ is our Solid Rock. And, the Father set His love on us by determining to send Jesus for us, to die for us. Hebrews 2:10-13. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

Galatians 4:4-5. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

The Father promised that Jesus would rise, be exalted, and the Spirit would come. Psalm 16:8-11. 8 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. 9 Therefore, my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; My flesh also dwells securely.

10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

Or let your holy one see corruption.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

In your presence, there is fullness of joy;

At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Philippians 2:9-11. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And, if this wasn’t enough, the Father promised a Son for every people: every tribe, every language, every nation, every age group, every social dimension could envision. Revelation 5:9-10. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

This is an eternal covenant – fixed for all time – in God Himself. While our emotions may be up and down, our liver may quiver. We may sin. We may have horribly shameful moments, but none of those things can change what God has determined from eternity. He set His sight on you to save you. Don’t let the ups and downs of your life determine God’s love for you. Allow His character to shape your circumstances. He’s covenanted with us.

Secondly, B) He’s become like us.

This draws us back to our passage in 2:11, that He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. And, that’s in God Himself. So, because the source is God, Christ came for us. He identified with us. He grounds us in God Himself. Jesus didn’t remain distant from us. The infinite and eternal Son – King of kings, Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable light (as 1 Timothy 6:15-16 says) – came down for us. Thomas Watson famously put it this way: “It is a more extraordinary demonstration of humility for Christ to become a man than for Him to die. It’s natural for a man to die, but unheard of for God to become a man.” 

If you struggle believing God loves you (which I’m assuming is all of us at one time or another), remember that Jesus became a man for you. He embraced humanity’s weakness and frailty so he could identify with them. His coming wasn’t some back-alley deal – He determined this in eternity past. And, the plan was clear – He became human like us.

Third and finally, He did all of this, and C) He’s suffered for us.

The cross is the supreme display of Jesus not being ashamed of us. You likely know that crucifixion was the most shame-saturated form of execution in the Roman world — nakedness, public humiliation, mockery. While physically naked, Jesus was swaddled in the garments of our sin (2 Cor. 5:21). And, He wasn’t even ashamed in bearing them. He bore our shame, guilt, and curse publicly. Romans 5:8 means so much to so many of us: God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

If God handled our biggest problem (sin) at the highest cost (His life), can we not trust Him with smaller things (like our lives)? The cross settles forever the question of whether Jesus is ashamed of you. Raymond quotes John Owen to help us see this: “John Owen writes of the value of reminding a believer that ‘God in Jesus Christ loves you, delights in you, is well pleased with you, has thoughts of tenderness and kindness toward you; to give, I say, you an overflowing sense thereof, is an inexpressible mercy.” Or another writer says, “When sitting under a shadow of depression, discouragement, or guilt that seems like it will never budge, remember this in that very moment: our Lord Christ is not ashamed to claim you as part of his family. He proved his love to you on the cross (Rom. 8:32). His sufferings console us. And remember, Christ’s heart in heaven is the same toward us as it was when he was on earth. “He loved us then; he’ll love us now.”

This summer, then, would you consider Jesus? Today, we’ve seen 3 reasons that Jesus is not ashamed of His people… A) He’s covenanted with us. B) He’s become like us. C) He’s suffered for us.

Maybe today you’ve never had a moment where you’ve stepped into a relationship with Jesus. Today would be a great day to turn from your sin and believe in Him. Faith is trusting that the truths like we’ve seen today are true: that Jesus is all for you because of the Father’s promises, becoming like us, and suffering for us. Trust the good news found in Him today.

And, let’s have a long marinade in this during the summer. We will all undoubtedly face a time when we wonder whether God is really for us. Sufferings, difficult circumstances, sin, loneliness, who knows what else may all say, “Look, where is Jesus in all of this?” And, I hope this series equips you to say, “Jesus relates to me eternally because He became human and died for me. Because of this, one day I’ll be with Him. He is enough.” Let’s press on to know Jesus and make Him known, so that we may be a people who glorify and enjoy Him forever.