He was Despised
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:3
One might have thought that the coming of the Lamb of God would lead to rejoicing. It did. Angels sang at His birth.[1] The heavens rejoiced at the coming of the Son of Man. When old Simeon saw the child he took Him in his arms and praised God.[2] Anna, the prophetess, gave thanks to God when she saw the infant Jesus and “spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”[3] But, there were others who were threatened by His coming. Instead of bowing down in worship before Him, they laid back their heads to laugh at Him. He was not among the cultured elite. He had not been born into privilege or power. There were questions regarding His birth. His father was only a carpenter. And He came from Nazareth. Everyone knew that nothing good came out of Nazareth.[4]
So they mocked Him. The soldiers laughed at Jesus as they dressed Him in a scarlet robe and placed a staff of office in His hand.[5] They called Him “King of the Jews” and bullied Him like spoiled children in a sand pit. As they had their fun, heaven glowered, but did nothing but wait. Even on the cross, a fellow-sufferer sought to relieve his own pain by taunting Jesus.[6] Passers-by shouted at Him, “So! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself.”[7] Even the chief priests and the teachers of the Law couldn’t contain their mirth. “He saved others,” they said, “but He can’t save Himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”[8]
When He came, Christ, the Lamb of God, was despised and rejected. He was despised and rejected by those who were ignorant of His purpose, and of God’s claim upon their lives. He was despised and rejected by those who were threatened by the enormity of His love, and by the implications of His coming. He was despised and rejected by those who believed that they had no need of a savior. How easy it would have been for Jesus to have responded to their scorn with anger of His own, to have thrown up His hands in frustration and to have said, “Enough! You will get what you deserve!” But, He did not. Instead, He lifted high His hands upon the cross and took what He did not deserve, for us.
Suffering Lord,
A superficial, cynical world mocks You still.
Your passion is still a source of schoolyard humor and crass contempt.
The godless mock You.
They despise Your salvation.
And by their laughter they crucify You again.
My heart grieves for You, and for Your suffering.
Amen.
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