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Glory Above Mockery
Jesus Christ was on a mission from the Father of eternal redemption. Nothing was going to distract Him from its completion. There on the cross, a scene took place that has many parallels to dynamics at play today. The gospel is on the fullest display possible, yet many feeble tongues can only mock and deride. Matthew 27 tells us that while on the cross “those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now.”
Jesus did not even engage with their foolishness at this time. He did not despair or need to win the battle of words to be justified. He simply trusted the Father’s plan with such utter certainty that His confidence came from above and not below. And sure enough, He completed the mission and God exalted Him by raising Him from the dead. As a result, all mocking tongues will one day have no choice but to speak the true glory He deserves. Philippians 2 tells us “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Oh, that we would remember His perspective and resulting glory among all the mocking and derision of our sinful world. When tempted to despair or succumb to sinful tongues down around us, let us look up to our Savior and His victorious sacrifice for hope and confidence. It is finished. He paid it all. All glory be to Him forever and ever.
Jacob
