“If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.” Mark 8:38 MSG
These are some powerful, red-letter words from Jesus. But then again, why wouldn’t they be? His words are to instruct, convict, exhort, and comfort. Your relationship with Him will determine how you respond to His words.
Jesus makes it clear that some of His followers were obviously embarrassed of Him and His leadership skills. But not when they were with Him. Only when they were around their fickle and unfocused friends. Hmmm. Rather hypocritical. Acting one way when with the “religious” crowd. And another when not.
Does that sound like anyone you know? Perhaps, you? You want Jesus to accept you so you can get all the benefits that go along with Him, like a home in heaven, but not too much of Jesus where you would be counted as a “Jesus Freak” or radical for Him. No, that would be embarrassing.
Notice Jesus doesn’t say that these fickle and unfocused friends are necessarily unbelievers. They seem to be up and down, riding their feelings instead of their faith. And He warns us not to be more concerned about what they are thinking instead of what He is thinking. He is admonishing us that we should live before an audience of One! Him!
There might come a time, if you keep up these antics, that He will be way more embarrassed of you when He comes in all His Father’s splendor with an army of angels. And there you will stand wanting all that He has to offer, wanting to share in His splendor, but you are a greater embarrassment to Him.
So let Him lead! He knows the way. Ours is to hold His hand. Eyes focused ahead on His path, no chance for the fickle and unfocused friends to take over. Embarrassment will not creep in. You KNOW whose hand your hand is in. Then when He appears you KNOW that He will be smiling right at you…absolutely no embarrassment!
