[CYM] 41.0 Do Not Be Ashamed of Me

Yeshua strongly warned His followers not to be ashamed of Him or His teachings, especially in a world that might reject or persecute them. This command is closely tied to discipleship, loyalty, and eternal consequences.

In Mark 8:38, Yeshua says:

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

This powerful warning follows His call to take up one’s cross (Mark 8:34–35), emphasizing that following Yeshua involves courage, even in the face of shame or suffering. It says,

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

The same teaching appears in Matthew 10:32–33:

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Here, Yeshua is instructing His disciples before sending them out to preach, urging them to boldly confess Him regardless of opposition.

Luke 9:26 echoes Mark’s account:

For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Though John doesn’t use the word “ashamed,” the theme is present. In John 12:42–43, some leaders believed in Yeshua but wouldn’t confess Him openly “for fear of the Pharisees,” because “they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

Yeshua commands His followers to stand unashamed, boldly confessing Him in word and deed, even when it costs them—because eternal reward far outweighs temporary rejection.