Mocked

Saturday 5^th April

Read Mark 15:16-20

“The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷ They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. ¹⁸ And they began to call out to him, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ ¹⁹ Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spat on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.” (NIVUK)

The mockery of the king frames the Passion narrative in Mark. First the Gentiles mock him (v15-20), then the Jews (v29-32). The mockery of the Messiah is at the heart of many Psalms associated with the cross. For example, in Psalm 69, David speaks of those who mock and scorn and seek to break Him, to isolate Him from family and friends alike, just as the Romans do now to Jesus. The echoes of the cross ring through these verses.

“For I endure scorn for your sake,
    and shame covers my face.
⁸ I am a foreigner to my own family,
    a stranger to my own mother’s children;
⁹ for zeal for your house consumes me,
    and the insults of those who insult you fall on me…

You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;
    all my enemies are before you.
²⁰ Scorn has broken my heart
    and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
    for comforters, but I found none.
²¹ They put gall in my food
    and gave me vinegar for my thirst.” (Psalm 69:7-9; 19-21) (NIVUK)

The mockery Jesus endured is both an example to us and a source of strength. When we are tempted to scorn others we are to remember the cross. Paul argues this very truth when writing to the Romans.

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’” (Romans 15:1-3) (NIVUK)