Originally posted: 04/26/2019
I just couldn’t stop thinking about the mocking. The entire scene is really too much to grasp…
But the mocking…
The religious authorities conferring and conspiring; Jesus standing before Pilate; the scourging and crown of thorns; Pilate offering a way of escape; the people wholeheartedly rejecting his offer; and even Judas, His betrayer, feeling remorse.
But the mocking…
After time spent in Exodus learning of His Law and the requirements for atonement, I am convinced Scripture must be fulfilled; and without His blood sacrifice all of humanity would be lost.
But the mocking…
It’s almost too much to take in. There before them stood the sinless Son of God, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, Who would soon be nailed to a tree for them; and rather than moved to tears, they were moved to mock; and still He would lay down His life.
Consider Him Who Was Mocked
The old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” many of us most likely heard from parents attempting to bandage the penetrating wounds caused by the heartless words of others. But even as children, we knew; we knew words hurt and can be far more difficult to bear than a broken bone, with far-reaching ramifications often more destructive than physical injury.
And there stood Jesus, Creator of the universe, the King of kings, the Suffering Servant, enduring the taunts, the insults, the mocking from the very ones He came to save. As His flesh grimaced in pain, did His heart break more and more with each slicing stab of verbal assault and abuse?
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. 31 After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him, (27:27-31).
And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him, (27:39-42).
How do we respond to Him Who Was Mocked?
When we place our faith in His saving work on the cross, our blind eyes are opened to see our condition apart from Him. The sad truth is, we too may have stood with the mockers had we been there.
But now, if we have been born again by placing our faith in His sinless sacrifice, we are empowered by His Holy Spirit to live lives to honor and worship Him. As we consider Him Who Was Mocked, let us prayerfully and honestly ask His Holy Spirit to evaluate our own treatment of the King Who stands before us.
Re-read the passage in 27:27-31. Do we hail Him as King… yet treat Him as less than holy and worthy of our surrender and submission to His authority?
Re-read the passage in 27:39-42. Do we expect Him to prove Himself our King… insisting He satisfy our expectations in order to earn our belief?
It stings, as we see ourselves, standing amongst the mockers, with our outward displays of honor, but hearts removed and unbelieving, mocking Him Who deserves all our allegiance and devotion. Oh Lord Jesus, Sinless Savior, may we never break Your heart so as to mock Your authority and Your rule as King in our lives, never forgetting the words of Paul, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap,” (Galatians 6:7).
Oh Lord Jesus, please, may we live each and every day to honor and worship You with sincere hearts, so as to reap Your blessings through faith, obedience and submission.
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation, (Psalm 24:3-5)