Watching As Jesus Is Mocked

Watching as Jesus Is Mocked

Witnesses Of The Crucifixion

Read: Matthew 27:27-44

In the crowd attending Jesus’ trial and sentencing, his followers saw their beloved leader being mocked and tortured. When the Roman soldiers finished their cruel treatment of him, Jesus was so disfigured that he could hardly be recognized as a man. This fulfilled a prophecy from Isaiah 52:14. As Jesus hung on the cross, the mocking continued. The people passing by; the leading priests, religious teachers, and elders; and even the criminals crucified beside him all ridiculed Jesus.

Each scornful word must have cut deep into the heart of the women who had loved and served Jesus. The leaders got what they wanted, but they weren’t satisfied with Jesus’ death sentence. Now they taunted and mocked him as he suffered the painful execution. The women watched helplessly, unable to defend the man they had come to respect and honor.

People have never stopped mocking Jesus since that day on Calvary two thousand years ago. Some people dismiss any notion of a God and choose to worship themselves instead. Others accept the idea of a Supreme Being but scorn the idea that Jesus was anything but a good man and teacher. Our society grows bolder about openly mocking God in music lyrics, books, art, movies, and television shows.

Those of us who understand Jesus’ sacrifice are wounded whenever we hear his name derided or used as profanity. We shouldn’t be surprised when the world ridicules Jesus or when it ridicules us for believing in him. He warned his followers to expect the same type of treatment that he received. Jesus said we should welcome persecution because it means that we are faithful. When someone makes fun of us for believing in Jesus, we can look back to what he endured for us, then look ahead to our reward.

[Jesus said,] “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”

Matthew 5:11