Scripture:
Mark 15:16-20
Wed, 13 April 2022

The Mocking of God

Observation:

Why did the soldiers mock Jesus the way they did? (Note: When Jesus
was hanging on the cross, other groups of people also mocked Him; see
Mk 15:29-32.)

Deeper Reflection
IN CHRISTIANITY REDISCOVERED, SPIRITAN PRIEST AND missionary Vincent J. Donovan related a shocking dialogue with the tribal Masai people of East Africa. When asked what they thought about God, a young Masai elder stood up and replied, “If I ever run into God, I will put a spear through him.”19 Such audacity!The cruel rejection and brutal violence against Jesus hours before His death is beyond human imagination and comprehension. Why the need to summon so many Roman soldiers (up to 600 men20) against a solitary, peace-loving religious teacher? What prompted such senseless mockery from military men usually indifferent to Jewish religious matters? Were their hostile actions instinctive in a culture of violence? Did they really believe that this powerless man was a rival king who needed to be eliminated as a potential threat to the Roman Emperor? Or could their vehemence stem from a deeper narrative of a broken, suspicious, barbaric and murderous humanity eager to wound each other, and even God?Why do bad things happen to good people? The apologist Clay Jones surveyed the long, horrifying history of grotesque human evil in the form of genocides, war crimes, mass rapes, racism, abortion, etc.21 Against this backdrop, deeper questions arise. Could it be that, ultimately, humanity’s greatest violence is not directed towards itself, but really against God? Might it be that out of an inability to comprehend our human predicament, people shake their fists at God and curse Him? If so, why do bad things happen to a good God? And why would God allow Himself to be mocked, tortured and even killed by His very own creation?
19 Vincent J. Donovan, Christianity Rediscovered (Orbis, 2003), 32. 20 Mark 15:16 – a cohort (Greek speira) is a tenth of a Roman legion, normally about 600 soldiers. 21 Clay Jones, Why Does God Allow Evil? (Harvest House, 2017), 47-63.
Application:

Will I commit myself to lift my hands up to God in prayer, praise and
thanksgiving even in those times when I do not understand why I am
going through pain and suffering?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: To learn to trust God and willingly bear whatever difficulty He wants them to go through
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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