Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (Matthew 27.39 – 44, NIV)

And they divided up his clothes by casting lots…The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” (Luke 23.34 – 37, NIV)

As I wrote on Monday, it was me. Here Jesus is mocked by four different groups:

• The people
• The religious leaders
• The soldiers
• The crucified criminals

I could have been in any of those groups. I could have been part of the mocking crowd. I’m a religious leader, often concerned about truth and exposing imposters. If I had been part of the ruling body, with whom would I have sided? I was a soldier. Would I have done my duty as a soldier only or would I have entered into the “fun” of mocking someone and something I knew nothing about? If I were one of the two criminals crucified with him, which one would I have been?

Psalm 22 is a striking example of the Bible’s inspiration and accuracy in prophecy. Here’s some of what Jesus was experiencing during the mocking:

All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”…Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws…For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22.7 – 18, ESV)