Soldiers Who Won’t Mock

There is an interesting portion of the Crucifixion that is similar to all the Gospel’s accounts. It defines that the soldiers who were part of the entourage to witness and guard Jesus’ death had mocked Him. Even as they were soldiers, Jesus’ purpose and mission on earth was to save them. Testament is that after He was hanging on the tree, He asked God to forgive them for they do not know what they do. Thankfully for mankind, though He said that at the cross it is implied that Jesus pleads with the Almighty on behalf of all of us as we need God’s forgiveness.

So in some sense we all stand in the shadow of the soldiers who mocked Jesus. Our techniques may not be as dramatic or physical as those at the foot of the cross, but they are no less damaging. Do you think that twisting a crown of thorns and pushing it down over His brow, or beating Him with a whip designed to tear and rip the flesh is any more damaging. then the ways we do that? Our loves and deceptions, our failings and weaknesses cause Him the same stresses and wounds as the first beatings He took.

The Biblical accounts indicate that those around Him mocked Him. They blindfolded Him, and slapped Him, asking Him to use His powers to identify His tormentors. He was slapped and spat upon, many hands beating Him mercilessly. We ultimately demanded His placement on the cross until death.

To mock someone, is to ridicule them, to diminish their beliefs, treat them with contempt and to disappoint their hopes. Let’s not make any mistakes here, when we do these things to the least of these, we also do them to Jesus. So, in your lifetime have you ever ridiculed, diminish beliefs, treat with contempt, or disappoint the hopes of anyone? Anyone has to mean what it is, family, friends, acquaintances or strangers. The truthful among you will easily admit that you have. When you treated a homeless person with contempt, you also treated Jesus with contempt and therefore became those who mocked Jesus.

When we fail to live by God’s words and ways, we are pressing that thorny crown down over the brow of Jesus. When we fail to treat each other with love and respect, we are wielding that implement of torture, reigning blows down upon the very body that has been sent to save us.

As Easter season approaches perhaps we should all evaluate our roles as those who stand at the foot of the dying Savior, mocking Him. Everyone of us can be encouraging, support each other and help raise the level of hope of those around us. We too then will become targets of those who mock us. The bible is clear on this point also, when we suffer as Christ suffers, we will also find benefits to compensate us for our travails. Once that happens we are well on our way to being soldiers who will not mock.