Did Jesus Experience Shame?

Before dismissing the question, “Did Jesus Experience Shame?” with an offended “Of course not!”, one must ask if Jesus was truly human and to what degree is shame part of our human condition? 

“He had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17)

And if Jesus didn’t experience it, was He truly tempted in every way as we are (Hebrews 4:15)?  Was He made to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21)?  Was Jesus a superhuman and not really like the rest of us?  But the mirror response of “Of course He did!” leaves open a quagmire of theological problems.

What is shame anyway? 

I’ve been quiet for a while, overwhelmed by life in general, trying to cling to my faith in the midst, toiling away with manual labor, being nourished by somewhat weak sermons that only left me hungry, and resorting to chewing on my own thoughts. 

This question, “Did Jesus Experience Shame?” has proven to be a rich for theological ideas to be mined.  There is an opportunity to go deep into shame–something we all experience to one degree or another– and a series is born in which we will explore whether Jesus, as fully-human-fully-divine, ever experienced shame.