There was more to Jesus’ suffering than just the physical dimension; there was also a social dimension, which included shame and humiliation. Death on a cross is not only an extremely painful way to die; it is also very humiliating. The humiliation was in being publicly beaten, stripped naked, and hung outside the city where people see your naked body as they walk past. Hanging on the cross, Jesus is completely alone, and the object of hatred, shame, and isolation.

Jesus did not deserve this shame and humiliation any more than he deserved to suffer physical pain. He was the blessed man who walked in God’s ways. According to Psalm 119:5, no one who walks in God’s ways will be put to shame. He suffered shame and humiliation not because he deserved it, but because he was paying the penalty for our sin.

We see something of the social cost of sin in our world today. One of the consequences of our rejection of God is that our world is full of relational pain and breakdowns. We struggle to get on with friends and family. In our wider society, racial abuse, hatred, and a general disregard for the welfare of others is common. By nature we hate our neighbours (Titus 3:3).

The true social cost of sin will be seen most clearly only in hell. Often people joke about going to hell—all friends will be there, it will be fun and games compared to the boredom of singing songs in heaven. But hell is a place of total social breakdown, of shame and humiliation, of loneliness and isolation. There will be no love and friendship, but only the ridicule, hatred, and cruelty similar to what Jesus experienced.

For those who trust in Jesus Christ, we do not have to fear that we will have to suffer all the shame and humiliation that our sin deserves because Jesus suffered shame and humiliation for us. The social cost of our sin has been paid by him. As a result, we can look forward to the new creation. Revelation 21:1 – 22:21 speaks of a city where God’s people will dwell in love, harmony, and peace, a city where nothing impure or shameful will be allowed to enter (Revelation 21:27). We will enjoy honour and glory because Christ has suffered our shame and humiliation.