Topical Bible: Scorning and Mocking: The Men Who Held Jesus

Bible > Topical > Scorning and Mocking

◄ Scorning and Mocking: The Men Who Held Jesus ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the narrative of the Passion of Christ, the acts of scorning and mocking by those who held Jesus are significant events that highlight the depth of human depravity and the fulfillment of prophetic Scripture. These actions are recorded in the Gospels and serve as a poignant reminder of the suffering and humiliation that Jesus endured on His path to the crucifixion.

Biblical Account

The Gospel of Luke provides a detailed account of the mocking that Jesus faced at the hands of His captors. After His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was brought before the high priest and the council. It is during this time that He was subjected to ridicule and abuse. Luke 22:63-65 states: "The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, 'Prophesy! Who hit You?' And they said many other blasphemous things against Him."

This passage illustrates the physical and verbal abuse that Jesus suffered. The act of blindfolding Him and demanding that He prophesy who struck Him was a cruel taunt, mocking His prophetic role and divine knowledge. The men who held Jesus were likely temple guards or soldiers, tasked with ensuring His detention, yet they took the opportunity to deride Him, displaying a profound lack of respect and understanding of His true identity.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

The mocking of Jesus was not merely an act of human cruelty but also a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Isaiah 53:3 foretells the suffering of the Messiah: "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not." The scorn and mockery He endured were part of the suffering that the Suffering Servant was prophesied to experience.

Additionally, Psalm 22, a messianic psalm, vividly describes the mockery that the Messiah would face. Psalm 22:7-8 reads: "All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: 'He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.'" This passage echoes the taunts that Jesus would later face on the cross, further emphasizing the prophetic nature of His suffering.

Theological Significance

The scorn and mockery of Jesus highlight the rejection of the Messiah by His own people and the world. Despite His innocence and divine mission, Jesus was subjected to the worst of human scorn, underscoring the sinfulness of humanity and the need for redemption. The actions of the men who held Jesus serve as a stark contrast to His response of silence and submission, fulfilling His role as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

In the broader context of the Passion narrative, the mocking of Jesus is a prelude to the greater suffering He would endure on the cross. It serves as a reminder of the cost of human redemption and the depth of Christ's love and obedience to the Father's will. Through His endurance of scorn and mockery, Jesus exemplified humility and forgiveness, setting an example for believers to follow in the face of persecution and ridicule.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 22:63,64
And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Wisdom's Call
... and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate ... The three designations
of men in verse 22 are ... That is an awful picture of the mocking laughter of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/wisdoms call.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... And the scorners delight in their scorning? ... also the heart and carriage of worldly
men towards the ... The Christian's heart is held forth by this, that anything ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm