Mocking the Messiah
Ponder: How Jesus dealt with verbal abuse.
Scripture: “But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God’” (Luke 23:35 NKJV).
Words can hurt. The verbal abuse hurled at Him comprised part of Jesus’ suffering at Calvary. “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mark 15:29, 30). “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 in Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him” (Matthew 27:42, 43). Even the soldiers who crucified Him “also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself’” (Luke 23:36, 37). Thus was fulfilled David’s prophecy: “All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!’” (Psalm 22:7, 8).
Why didn’t Jesus accept their challenge and come down from the cross? Why didn’t He show those miserable sinners a thing or two? Rest assured, He had the power. But He couldn’t save Himself and also save us! His death was not forced upon Him by His executioners; He suffered and died willingly so that He might provide cleansing from sin for each of us.
Peter commends to us Jesus’ example: “When you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, Nor was guile found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:20-23).
Let us remember that words can hurt. “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword” (Proverbs 12:18). David complained of those “whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword” (Psalm 57:4). Let us put bridles on our tongues (see James 1:26), minding our words and our tone so that we harm no one. And, should we receive verbal abuse from others, let us imitate the humble, patient endurance of our Savior.

Song: He Could have Called Ten Thousand Angels

Prayer: Father, we thank you for our Savior who endured such abuse for sinners like us. Please help us never to abuse others; and should your providence allow abuse to come our way, help us to endure patiently as He did. In His blessed name, Amen.

Joe Slater (Justin, TX)