Mocking Jesus
Mark 15:16-20 ESV
"And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him."
In 2017, Tim Keller preached a sermon on Mark 15:16-32, focusing on the mocking of Jesus. As always, Keller provides keen insight on the passage in terms of what it means for Christians today. Consider Keller's words:
In Mark’s Gospel, we get a clear picture of Jesus’ crucifixion, where he was laughed at, insulted, and humiliated. Jesus’ suffering wasn’t just about dying; it also involved deep shame. This powerful story helps us see what our hearts are like, shows Jesus’ mission, and can even help us change and become better people.
1. The laughing at Jesus shows us what we’re like
People laughed at Jesus because they didn’t want to believe he was the King and Savior, the one replacing the temple. Some people studying the New Testament even today laugh at Jesus because they don’t want to fully believe in who he is. They might have their own ideas about life or want to control everything themselves. Even if we have had bad experiences, we need to remember that God often works through times of weakness and trouble.
2. The laughing at Jesus shows us what he’s like
Jesus chose to stay on the cross even when people were laughing at him. This shows us how great he really is. He’s not like the usual big, powerful heroes in stories. His death on the cross was not just about physical pain but also about being shamed by society. He willingly took all this on so that we could experience God’s love, approval, and glory forever. Understanding how deep this shame was helps us get why Christianity is so important.
3. The laughing at Jesus can help us become more like him
When we go through tough times, we can become hard and bitter. But Saint Paul teaches us that our weaknesses can actually make us stronger. Just like Jesus’ suffering brought power into the world, our own struggles can change us for the better if we don’t get bitter about them. Even if people don’t understand us or treat us badly, we can find strength in Jesus’ example. We can learn to love people even when they get things wrong and let our tough times make us stronger and more resilient.
Source: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/mocking-jesus/
In Mark’s Gospel, we get a clear picture of Jesus’ crucifixion, where he was laughed at, insulted, and humiliated. Jesus’ suffering wasn’t just about dying; it also involved deep shame. This powerful story helps us see what our hearts are like, shows Jesus’ mission, and can even help us change and become better people.
1. The laughing at Jesus shows us what we’re like
People laughed at Jesus because they didn’t want to believe he was the King and Savior, the one replacing the temple. Some people studying the New Testament even today laugh at Jesus because they don’t want to fully believe in who he is. They might have their own ideas about life or want to control everything themselves. Even if we have had bad experiences, we need to remember that God often works through times of weakness and trouble.
2. The laughing at Jesus shows us what he’s like
Jesus chose to stay on the cross even when people were laughing at him. This shows us how great he really is. He’s not like the usual big, powerful heroes in stories. His death on the cross was not just about physical pain but also about being shamed by society. He willingly took all this on so that we could experience God’s love, approval, and glory forever. Understanding how deep this shame was helps us get why Christianity is so important.
3. The laughing at Jesus can help us become more like him
When we go through tough times, we can become hard and bitter. But Saint Paul teaches us that our weaknesses can actually make us stronger. Just like Jesus’ suffering brought power into the world, our own struggles can change us for the better if we don’t get bitter about them. Even if people don’t understand us or treat us badly, we can find strength in Jesus’ example. We can learn to love people even when they get things wrong and let our tough times make us stronger and more resilient.
Source: https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/mocking-jesus/
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