The Mocking Guards
We all need to judge who Jesus is, and sadly many people end up making the same mistake as the guards who met Jesus at His trial. We read: "The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, 'Prophesy! Who hit you?' And they said many other insulting things to him." (Luke 22:63-65)
One of the ways some friends like to show affection for each other is through some good-natured mockery! I remember a few years back, before I started running more seriously, my uncle who is quite a serious runner was giving me a hard time before the one parkrun we were doing. I mentioned my new watch that I was using and he said "oh do they make watches that record such slow runners"?
It's fun to give each other a bit of a hard time in a light-hearted way. I think God made us to laugh and to have a sense of humour. Sometimes Christians are so darn serious that we forget how hilarious life is. We should laugh more!
I'm certain that the disciples laughed together a lot with Jesus! He was serious at times, but Jesus had a sense of humour - you can see it in some of the things He said.
When Mockery Crosses the Line
But to be honest, the line between good-natured fun and hurtfulness is quite thin.
Kids often cross that line. Maybe it's cos they see adults having fun with each other and they don't understand that there's a line you don't cross.
I've noticed too that in marriage this line can often be crossed. Someone will tease their spouse and after a while it stops being a bit of fun and actually begins to break the person down. In my marriage prep sessions I talk to engaged couples about being very careful with their words because they have great power to hurt - don't ever break your spouse down in front of other people, even if you're joking…
Sometimes I think we cross the line with God. We think we're just being light and jokey, but we end up doing what those guards did. They weren't just having some good-natured fun with Jesus. They were breaking Him down.
The world does this today, still. Mocking Jesus left, right and centre. You can hardly find a movie or TV show where God isn't mocked. Have you noticed that Jesus takes a beating from people today, but not other religions? Christianity has become the butt of all jokes, but not other religions.
Some people look at Jesus and their judgement is that He is an idiot worthy of taunts and mockery.
Honouring the Holiness of Christ
But it's not just the outsiders. Sometimes I think we Christians are too blasé about God! One of my favourite songs says this:
Behold the man upon the cross, my sin upon His shoulders Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers
Ever been there? Suddenly realising you're the one mocking at the cross? Suddenly realising you're not so different from the scoffers around you?
God is HOLY. Jesus is HOLY. Jesus is SACRED and worthy of respect and honour and glory and worship…
Be careful that you aren't mocking Him. Be careful that you speak of Him with due respect and admiration. The disciples always spoke to Jesus with respect and worship, because they knew He was holy.
Be careful that your life honours God. Sometimes I think we mock Him by claiming to be His disciples and then living a very ungodly life.
I'm not saying become a joyless fuddy-duddy. No! Laugh and play and enjoy the blessings God gives, and get close to Him and get familiar with Him…
But always remember just how worthy He is of respect.
Paul said this to the Galatians: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6:7)
Come to Jesus to make your judgement of His claims…
But treat Him with the respect He deserves.
When dealing with difficult people, it’s important to be honest. This is hard! But it’s the only way to truly move forward and ‘deal with it’.