Mike Focht 11/22/2024
The fact that the devil employed mockery against Jesus Christ lets us know that it is one of his keenest weapons. The mocking of Christ guarantees the mockery of Christ’s followers. Watching how the enemy mocked Christ should teach us what to expect as we obey His commands in our day and age.
What do we see when we look at Christ? First, the enemy employs humans to express his foul spirit against the pure Spirit of God. Second, the mockery of Christ came at some of the most trying times in Jesus’ life of obedience—particularly while He was going to cross and on the cross. Third, the more public the life of Christ became, the more mockery He faced.
I think the mockery that Jesus endured for us on the cross is a clear example of how the enemy will still use this weapon against Christians today. Read Matthew 27:39-44.
First, And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Here, we see those passing by, those who knew little of Christ and His true ministry and character, mocking Him. Specifically, we see them mocking Him for the Word that He spoke. They misquote His sayings and then mock Him for their misapplication.
In like manner, all of Christ’s followers will be mocked by those who twist the truth of God’s Word and then lash us for obedience to God despite their twisted interpretation.
Second, Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.” Here, we see the religious Jews of the day mocking Jesus as powerless. They dare Him to express His power through self-justification and personal deliverance.
In like manner, those who follow Christ will be mocked for their lack of power to deliver others from sacrifice. The world cannot understand the value of surrender to God. The world hates self-sacrifice because it loves self-gratification. So the world, particularly the religious world, will mock the follower of Jesus who denies self and takes up their cross to follow Jesus.
Third, “He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Here, Christ faces mockery for trusting in God—for claiming to be God’s Son. His scorners are daring God the Father to miraculously intervene and claiming they would believe if He did.
In like manner, all those who follow Christ and openly claim to be the sons and daughters of God, who trust their lives to a Faithful Creator and loving Father, will be mocked. The spirit of Satan in the world will scorn that trust. Satan hates that we are children of God. The enemy will say: Where was God when your friend got cancer? Where was God when that innocent person was murdered? Where was God when your child died? If God is your Father, why doesn’t He deliver you? The heart that trusts Christ crucified to deliver from sin and death will be mocked.
Finally, Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. Here, we see the summation—human criminals mocking the Perfect Savior. True hypocrites will always mock what they deem as hypocrisy in God. Ultimately, all mockery comes from a creation that has fallen from what it should be and is left raging against God because He will never conform to their sinful image and likeness. So all those who mocked Christ—the Roman soldiers, the passing crowds, the religious leaders, the guilty criminals, and all of Christ’s mockers today were, and still are, the true hypocrites. Without Christ, we are all objects fit for divine mockery.
What do we see from Christ? The Lamb of God dying for mockers like you and me. Christ accepts the repentance of a mocking thief and promises paradise. Christ endured the mockery of the world to save us and teach us how to respond when we, too, are mocked. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.