Jesus Mocked and Beaten - Luke 22:63

Luke the beloved physician wrote how the religious leaders took Jesus, “and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, you are also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what you are saying. And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, you shall deny me three times. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse sixty-three of his book Luke shared how the men with Jesus, “mocked” and “smote him” where we read:

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

The verse reads, “And the men that held Jesus mocked him, ...” Luke began with the words, “and the men” or “and the male human beings” “that held Jesus” which means “who constrained, compressed and besieged the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “mocked him” or “played with, trifled, deluded, derided and jeered at Jesus”. Luke shared how the “men” who were holding Jesus captive “derided and jeered” at Him.

The verse continues, “... and smote him.” Luke added the words, “and smote” which means “and beat, thrashed and struck” “him” which refers to “Jesus”. Luke shared how the men who held Jesus captive also “struck and beat” Him.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we may be horrified to know how these men treated Jesus. Jesus was the Son of the Living God, and they “jeered” at Him and “beat” Him as though He were just a regular man. They obviously had no idea to whom they were doing this. Still, Jesus allowed them to do these things because He saw beyond their pernicious ways toward the “salvation” of every person who would believe and trust in Him. Jesus came to “save” mankind from their sins so they may live forever with His Father God in Heaven, and even these who “mocked” Him and “smote” Him could be redeemed. Those who think this through should see themselves as Jesus' attackers and understand if they refuse and reject a relationship with Him, they become as these “mockers” and ones who would “beat” Jesus because they do not believe He is the Son of the Living God.

Next time Luke shares, “when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".