Personal Confession: An Embarrassing Story
Jesus is not ashamed of His family. Being embarrassed or ashamed is a terrible feeling. I don’t know if I’ve ever shared this publicly before because it’s so embarrassing to me, but here it goes anyway.
When I was about 20 years old, I made the mistake of confusing being slightly tipsy or drunk with being “knocked up”—two very different things. That’s a mistake you don’t want to make with the girl you’re dating at the time. I just want to hide behind the pulpit now. Okay, I said it. I’m good.
Jesus Is Not Ashamed to Call Us Brothers and Sisters
Today, in a world full of embarrassment—where social media makes your uncle’s political views public for everyone to see, and you’re like, “Oh no”—Jesus is not ashamed to have you as His family.
“For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.” (Hebrews 2:11)
Every teenager knows this feeling well. You can remember having a friend over at your house—everything’s great, they’re buddy-buddy with you. Then you go back to school, excited to be friends with someone cool, but suddenly they don’t want to talk to you anymore. They’re a little embarrassed to be associated with you; they want to make sure they’re with the “right” kind of people.
In the ancient world, shame was far more serious. If someone in your family brought shame—maybe they went bankrupt, or someone got pregnant outside marriage—it could mean not talking to them, not acknowledging their existence. They had low social standing; you had high standing. Associating with them would lower your own status.
But Jesus is not ashamed to call His people brothers and sisters—even though He is the height of everything. He is God of very God, possessing all the attributes of God (as we saw in Hebrews 1). He is not ashamed.
We know this both from Scripture and from the simple fact that He embraced the lowest place. He calls us brothers and sisters because He joined us in suffering, pain, and even death.
United in Humanity: One Origin, One Family
“For he who sanctifies [Jesus] and those who are sanctified [His people] all have one origin.” (Hebrews 2:11, literally “all of one”)
This means Jesus and we are united in our humanity—especially in suffering and weakness caused by the fall into sin.
“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.” (Hebrews 2:10)
We don’t usually think that things get “perfect” through suffering, but it was fitting because Jesus joined humanity—even its weakest parts. The idea of the divine Word of God suffering was mind-blowing to the early church. The bigger early heresy wasn’t denying Jesus’ divinity; it was struggling to accept His full humanity—how could God suffer?
Yet the author says: it was fitting. Jesus is not ashamed of His family.
Four Ways Jesus Shows He Is Not Ashamed of His Family
1. Jesus Shares Our Humanity Completely
Jesus shares our humanity in every way. (The author quotes Old Testament verses to prove this.)
(Paraphrase for clarity—test against a standard translation like the ESV): For Jesus who sanctifies and His people who are sanctified share one humanity. Therefore Jesus is not ashamed to call His people brothers and sisters.
As it says in Psalm 22 (a key Messianic psalm, quoted by Jesus on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”): “I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation [the church] I will praise you.” (Psalm 22:22)
If the Messiah says this in the midst of suffering and shame, He is calling them brothers—therefore He is not ashamed.
From Isaiah 8: “I will put my trust in him.” (Hebrews 2:13) Jesus lived by faith—just as we do—trusting in things unseen.
And even more: “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” (Isaiah 8:18 / Hebrews 2:13)
His children share in flesh and blood, so Christ shares in flesh and blood with us. Jesus came to a body that bleeds. When I’m feeling sick or weak, I wouldn’t choose it—but Jesus chose it. It was right for Him to do so, so He could understand and show He is not ashamed.
2. Jesus Shares Our Suffering and Shame
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14)
Shame in the ancient world separated people—even family. Death also separated: priests couldn’t touch a dead body. Yet Christ cared so much for His people that He embraced death itself.
Through death, He destroyed the one who has the power of death—the devil. The devil’s power works through sin (which brings guilt and death). By embracing the penalty and shame of sin on the cross, Jesus removes the devil’s accusing power.
This brings history full circle: In the garden, the serpent lied, bringing sin, shame, and separation from God. Now Jesus—God in the flesh—enters humanity, takes on the shame and curse, destroys the devil, and leads His children back to glory.
“…and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:15)
The fear of death hung over us like a sword. As a kid, I was terrified of dying—haunted by the thought I might not wake up. Society often ignores death (celebrations of life that barely mention it). But Jesus embraced it—sweating blood in Gethsemane—yet He took it to destroy death.
For those who trust Him, death is no longer a frightening sword but a doorway into glory. He is leading many sons and daughters to glory. We don’t have to fear death; we can look forward to it. Death becomes the entrance to a life ever better and ever blessed.
Jesus took the lowest place—slavery to death—so He could lift us out. He is not ashamed.
3. Jesus Was Tempted (and Suffered in It)
“For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)
You might think: “Sure, Jesus isn’t ashamed of good Christians—but what about me? I’m a bad Christian. I’m a sinner. Christ never sinned.”
Jesus was tempted and suffered in it. Temptation wasn’t easy for Him. It wasn’t just quick answers in the desert. He felt the full force—when tired, hungry, beaten down. Few in history have faced “Bow down and worship me, and everything is yours” and turned it down.
He knows the pull of temptation. He is not ashamed to save sinners because He understands.
4. Jesus’ Cross Frees Us from Sin’s Dominion
“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17)
Propitiation: the atoning sacrifice that turns away God’s righteous anger at sin, making Him mercifully disposed toward us.
Jesus’ cross covers every sin. God is favorably disposed to us. No sin is too great—He has done away with every one in His blood. He is not ashamed of you, even in your sin.
Jesus entered humanity without sin, shared our suffering and shame, took the lowest place (crucifixion—the punishment of slaves), was tempted without sin, and freed us from sin’s dominion.
What a salvation!
Three Applications
- How great is this salvation? How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? (Hebrews 2:3) Jesus entered every part of humanity to save us, taking the lowest place. He understands us and has made us family. Embrace the Savior—trust in Him, follow Him.
- Don’t be ashamed of Jesus. If He calls us family, how can we shrink back in shame at His name? How can we not stand up and say, “Yes, I am part of the family of Jesus Christ”?
- If you have been ashamed, start again. Peter denied Jesus with an oath—”I don’t know the man!” Yet Jesus restored him: “Do you love me? Feed my sheep.” Look again to Jesus, who calls you brother or sister, who loves you and is not distant. Stand unashamed. Do His work. Don’t shrink back.
Closing Prayer
Oh Lord God, You are faithful. You are not ashamed of us to call us brothers. You are not ashamed to share our flesh and blood. You are not ashamed of the cross and death. You are not ashamed of us.
I pray that we would see You and, in the same way, stand unashamed of who You are in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.