Sermon nuggets Weds Nov 26
Theme- Mockery
Verses John 19: 3-5 “and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.
4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him."
5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!"(NIV)
Humor
Humor, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Much of mocking is done for the sake of humor. It is to get other people to laugh at someone else's expense. People find different things to laugh over. Putting down others in some psychological way may make some feel more important. I think the thing that late night commedians find humorous in mocking leaders is that underlying sense of bring them down, not only to "our level" but below our level to make us feel superior.
So these Roman soldiers feel hostle toward the Jews. They feel they are the superior race. They want to make fun of the weakness of Jews and rulers, and leaders. If Jesus is seen by many people to be one worthly of respect, it will be their delight to humor themselves by brining him down in humiliaiton. They are private soldiers who are suppose to "honor" their superiors. They are now in power momentarily by abusing him. They do so at Christ's expense for their own humor. They laugh at how He looks. They play act by paying Him mock homage. They are vulgar no doubt in their comments to Him, as He stands their naked and bleeding, were really enjoying this torture, and took every opportunity to degrade, deface, and down Him.
I think Mel Gibson got that part right in his visual portrayal in his movie, “The Passions of Christ.” except it was appropriate for viewing to have a loin cloth around him, but he probably was as the prophecies say, naked.
It was a horrible torture, but they were not done, for they continued to have fun and making sport of Jesus. Mockingly they bowed down says, “Hail King of the Jews and kept up the blows with fists and rods. It isn’t enough but other scriptures tell us that the crowd spit upon him and laughed and ridiculed our Savior.
The Romans were also mocking Jesus because he was a Jew. They were prejudiced. They didn’t like living there among the Jews and since he was being tried for being a King of the Jews this was a chance to uncover their contempt.
The sin of mocking is identified when we show contempt of other races or religions. There are differences, but the them and us mentality is identified here as Jesus is taking the brunt of this sin too. Any part that we have in making fun of others because of nationality, education, language or color involves us in mockery due to prejudice. People do not like to be laughed at and Jesus knew what it meant to be laughed at and cruelly treated just because of his race.
We understand some mocking that came from those of his own race came from the sin of jealousy. Jealousy results in trying to humiliate another because we don’t like their success, attention, or accomplishment, or property. It is trying to put down other in order to somehow elevate ourselves. We see this in the leaders of the people. Jesus made them fell guilty because their hypocrisy was also being exposed. People don’t like to feel guilty they can either get rid of guilt by finding forgiveness in Christ or attack those who make them feel guilty.
I am amazed that Jesus would not only humble himself and take on the form of a human, but would humble himself by allowing others to spit on him, laugh at him and beat him mercilessly.
There is an old Spiritual that is sung this time of the year. “Were you there when they Crucified my Lord? The answer I’m sorry to say Yes. I was there in the mockery and in the humiliation. Perhaps not so much in the words and actions, but in prejudice, jealousy, indifference, in mocking others, and making fun of them that are represented there. If you been made fun of and been the brunt of cruel joke and laughter- Then remember Jesus understands. He bore humiliation. There was lots of pride displayed thinking they were better and even more powerful than Christ. But knowing the truth Jesus kept silent and went through this that we might be saved.
Pilate shows him off to the crowds by saying “Here is the man, Behold him, See what I have done to him. If the people could see this it would satisfy their desire to have him severely punished. It would be enough.
The crowd was not satisfied. They did not want only to see blood they wanted Jesus death. Yes, all of this was prophesied; all of this was pre-planned. All of this was indeed in God’s hands. But let’s not dismiss the actions or miss man’s part in the crucifixion of Christ. He was humiliated for our sins and he was hated, not just rejected. not just ignored, but hated by many. The Jewish leaders could take it no more when they heard Jesus was innocent. They saw blood but that was not enough.
It wasn’t enough to see him humiliated; they wanted to see him dead.
This Thanksgiving I am reminded He was willing to be humiliated, shamed, and laughed at for my salvation.
Pastor Dale
