Jesus Will Be Ashamed of Those Ashamed of Him

Some verses of Scripture hit so hard that they demand a pause. Mark 8:38 is one of them: “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

These words are not abstract. They are personal. They force us to ask am I ashamed of Jesus? Do I hesitate to stand with Him in a world that mocks, distorts, or outright denies Him?

It’s a sobering picture Jesus, returning in divine glory, surrounded by the holy angels, turning His face in shame from those who once turned theirs from Him.

To understand why Jesus makes such a statement, we must look at the larger teaching He’s giving in Mark 8. This verse doesn’t stand alone. It is the final note in a four-step argument from Jesus, each building on the last, culminating in this staggering warning.

Let’s trace His argument from the top down.

1. Saving is losing

Jesus begins in Mark 8:34 with a call to radical discipleship: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” He then gives the first reason why: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (v. 35). If your goal in life is to avoid the discomfort and cost of following Jesus, you may preserve your status but lose your soul. On the other hand, if you willingly embrace the losses yes, even the shame that may come with loyalty to Christ, you gain eternal life.

2. Profit is forfeit

Jesus continues: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (v. 36). Even if you succeed in acquiring everything power, wealth, admiration it will mean nothing if you lose your soul in the process. It’s the ultimate caution against valuing temporal gain over eternal truth.

3. Nothing is enough

“What can a man give in return for his soul?” Jesus asks in verse 37. This rhetorical question has a devastating answer: nothing. No success, no possessions, no popularity can ransom your soul once lost. The scales of eternity cannot be tipped with earthly treasures.

4. Shame invites shame

Finally, Jesus delivers the conclusion: “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words... of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed.” This is the most profound level of warning. If we disassociate from Jesus now to avoid being shamed by the world, He will disassociate from us on the day of judgment.

But what exactly is shame?

Shame isn’t the same as guilt. Guilt is the conviction that we’ve done wrong. Shame, however, is the painful sense of being exposed, mocked, or rejected. It’s feeling like a fool in the eyes of others.

Being ashamed of Jesus doesn’t always mean outright denial. It can be subtle. It might look like:

• Softening His words to make them more palatable.

• Hiding your faith when it might cost you socially or professionally.

• Staying silent when His name is ridiculed, mocked, or dismissed.

These choices may seem harmless or even prudent in the moment. But over time, they form a pattern of disassociation. And that’s what Jesus warns against: consistently choosing the approval of an “adulterous and sinful generation” over faithfulness to Him.

Why does this matter so much?

Because when Christ returns “in the glory of His Father with the holy angels,” the shame we avoided for His sake will be replaced with eternal honor. And the approval we sought from the world will be revealed as worthless.

This isn’t about earning salvation. It’s about the kind of faith that truly saves. Real faith clings to Jesus publicly, unashamedly, even when it costs. It treasures Him above acceptance, reputation, or ease. As Romans 10:11 reminds us, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

This is the faith the apostles had. In Acts 5:41, after being flogged for preaching Jesus, they rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
They had tasted worldly shame but it only made their faith shine brighter.

Jesus is asking us: whose approval do you value more this generation’s, or God’s? Do we want the applause of sinful people now, or the embrace of Christ when He returns?

Imagine that moment.

Christ in all His glory. Angels attending Him. The holy presence of the Father blazing in power. Will He be ashamed of you? Or will He acknowledge you with joy?

That’s the question that rewrites every decision we make today.

So, what’s the path forward?

It starts with repentance. If you’ve compromised, been silent, or felt ashamed of Christ bring it to Him. He is merciful. He is willing to forgive. And He can give you the boldness to stand with Him, no matter the cost.

Because whatever shame you face today for following Jesus is worth it infinitely worth it if it means hearing Him say, “Well done” on that day.

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