The Mocking of Jesus
A Mocking Chorus
Hours before Jesus’s death on the cross, Mark chapter 15 tells us that a significant number of people mocked him. As I read the account, I wondered what I would do if I found myself before Jesus that day. Would I join the mocking chorus?
Soldiers who were to take Jesus into Pilate’s headquarters called the entire regiment to the task. Why did they need so many men? Was it Jesus they feared? The whole battalion mocked His majesty by dressing Him in a purple robe, weaving a crown of thorns for His head, saluting and taunting Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck Him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, then dropped to their knees in mock worship. (NLT)
After Jesus was nailed to the cross, verses 29-32 (ESV) tell us that “those who passed by derided Him, wagging their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ The chief priests and scribes mocked him to one another, saying, ‘He saved others, he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.”
Mocking and Contempt
The mocking of Jesus revealed sin and shame in the human heart. Mocking is a form of contempt. It is an act of shame. It is a deflection of shame. It requires us to step onto the judgment seat of another. Only someone who feels shame mocks or insults another. I give an entire chapter in my book, Lifted from Shame, to the topic, because mocking insults are a powerful expression and experience of shame.
In the Presence of Perfection
Standing in the presence of perfection ignites our shame. We know we are not perfect and we compare. In our estimation, our value lessens as we stand beside others who we believe offer greater worth than we have. To increase our importance, we may speak words of contempt toward the one who, by their greater valuation, reveals our deficiency. In so doing, we even the playing field, at least in our minds.
The soldiers, the chief priests and scribes, those who were crucified with Him, and the people passing by all stood in the presence of true perfection. Their shame exploded in contempt for the Perfect One. And Jesus said nothing. He didn’t defend Himself or return insults to those who mocked Him. How could He do that?
Entrusting Ourselves to the Just Judge
Scripture gives us the answer. “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (I Peter 2:23)
It is our great hope that we don’t need to return insults for insults. As we grow in confidence of God’s value of us, and in His ability to deal with our offenders, we can entrust ourselves to Him who judges justly. When we believe our worth and identity as a child of the King, we don’t need to bring anyone else down. We are valued, known, and loved. The lifting of our shame gives us the ability to see others accurately, so that we can offer compassion instead of judgment to our fellow humans. What a joy to live in the freedom that Christ died to give us!
I Peter 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
Photo by Ismael Paramo on Unsplash
Questions to Ponder:
When do you feel tempted to put someone else down? What is it about them that bothers you?