The Mocking of God

About this sermon

Introduction: Something you notice when you read the biblical accounts of Christ’s sufferings is how restrained the descriptions are. One example of that is right here in verse 15. ESV Mark 15:15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having ascourged1 Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Mark writes, “Having scourged Jesus.” Scourging is treated in a way that is almost passing. No explanation of what scourging is. No description of where, or how, the scourging took place. Mark simply reports that it was after Jesus was scourged that he was delivered to be crucified. Now, some of that might be explained by the familiarity of first century Roman readers with scourging and crucifixion. But even then, we would have to say that the physical suffering of Jesus is not overly emphasized. Contrast that with movies that are made about the death of Christ — that depict His trials and crucifixion. Modern depictions often focus on His suffering in graphic detail. But the inspired texts don’t really do that. Rather, what the Bible emphasizes is the HUMILIATION of it all. This IS where the camera pauses. This is where the scene focuses for a while, in the biblical accounts. The brutality is noted. The cruelty is noted. But what seems most astounding to the biblical writers is the way in which the Son of God was mocked. And that is what is emphasized in our verses today. The Mocking of almighty God in the person of the Son of God. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MOCKING OF CHRIST Just take note of what the passage describes. Jesus has already been pronounced innocent by Pilate, but He’s been treated like a guilty man. The Roman governor of Judea has said that he can’t find any guilt in him. That same governor pleaded with the blood thirsty mob for the life of Christ. He said that Jesus had done no evil (vs.14). Yet, despite this, to his own great shame, Pilate decides to satisfy the mob. JESUS IS FLOGGED Pilate has Jesus scourged. This was a brutal, often life threatening, whipping. It wasn’t even allowed on Roman citizens. “A Roman judicial penalty, consisting of a severe beating with a multi-lashed whip containing embedded pieces of bone and metal” It was designed to shred flesh. So that, by the time they were done whipping Jesus, He would have been physically devastated to the point of great weakness, probably finding it difficult to stand. Why does Pilate have Him scourged? John tells us that after Jesus was scourged Pilate again attempted to persuade the Jews to change their minds. It seems that Pilate thought that the sight of Jesus punished (for nothing) would result in compassion. But it didn’t. Listen to John’s account. ESV John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and aflogged him. 2 aAnd the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that aI find no guilt in him." 5 So Jesus came out, wearing athe crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, b"Behold the man!" 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, a"Take him yourselves and crucify him, for bI find no guilt in him." 7 The Jews1 answered him, "We have a law, and aaccording to that law he ought to die because bhe has made himself the Son of God." 8 When Pilate heard this statement, ahe was even more afraid. 9 aHe entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, b"Where are you from?" But cJesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?" 11 Jesus answered him, a"You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore bhe who delivered me over to you chas the greater sin." 12 From then on aPilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. bEveryone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar." 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on athe judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic1 Gabbatha. 14 Now it was athe day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour.1 He said to the Jews, b"Behold your King!" 15 They cried out, a"Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." 16 aSo he bdelivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, 17 and ahe went out, bbearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.