So much of the ancient world was explicitly built to avoid shame. So much of the modern world is all about people pleasing to avoid shame or rejection. That makes sense as shame is one of the most damaging things a person can endure. Psychologically, shame warps the mind. We hide our shame constantly.

Jesus was shamed in his death, shamed in his birth, but he scorned the shame. Why?

And how do we scorn the shame that so many want to press on us?

Hebrews 12:2 says the answer to both is Joy. So the writer of Hebrews (I think it’s Paul by the way) is intentionally connecting these two opposites.

Scorning by others instinctively creates shame in us, but Jesus inverts that.

That’s where I start my conversation with columnist, blogger and author Anne Kennedy.

But first a little bit about Anne:

She grew up in French-speaking West Africa and subsequently traveled all over the world, but now she is based in Upstate New York. She started as a blogger on Blogspot, then moved over to Patheos. Anne now blogs at Demotivations with Anne on Substack. She has a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Her devotional Nailed It is published by Square Halo Press.

This episode digs deeper into “aischynēs kataphronēsas” (αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας meaning ‘scorning the shame’) in Hebrews 12:2.

Hebrews 12:2 - “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NIV)

Mentioned:

Demotivations with Anne - annekennedy.substack.com

Stand Firm Podcast with Matt Kennedy

Matt Kennedy

Bart Gingerich

Third Culture Kid

Ish-Bosheth

Mephibosheth

Baobab Tree

SNL “Italian Tourism Sketch”

Enchanted April (1991)

Towers of Trebizond

My Links:

Bammerhab Site: www.bammerhab.com

Bammerhab Substack: bammerhab.substack.com

SDG Morgan’s Substack: sdgmorgan.substack.com

Thanks to:

• Aaron Woodard for Graphic Design

• Dave Allam of Allam House for advanced audio techniques: sound.allamhouse.com

• Bible Hub for Greek / Hebrew hypertext links

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bammerhab.substack.com