Pastor Mark Geselle
Valley Christian Center
In my Bible reading, I came across a word we don’t use much these days. Matthew, Mark and Luke record the story of Jairus’ daughter who was at the point of death. Jairus sent for Jesus because he had faith to believe Jesus could heal her. In the meantime, the girl died. Everyone knew she was dead. Her parents knew. Those paid to mourn knew. Of course, Jesus knew and yet he told them all, “She’s not dead, she’s only sleeping.”
Here comes that word, “And they laughed him to SCORN.” The gospel writers all record their response to Jesus. Evidently, they didn’t hold Jesus in high regard. Evidently, they didn’t realize just who Jesus was. Evidently, they thought it was OK or even their right to laugh him to scorn. The Greek word used by Matthew, Mark and Luke means to deride, to scorn, to laugh down to. Maybe the term “mock” gets the point across? They laughed at Jesus. They mockingly laughed at Jesus to the point of scorn.
It still happens today. Jesus is often mocked, as a cuss word, as just a man or even just a good religious leader. He’s mocked when ridiculed, refused and rejected. When his teachings are twisted, maligned and ignored. “They laughed him to scorn.” Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of the sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful.” Why?
Mark gives a great summary of why. After they scorned Jesus, he sent the mockers out and “He took her by the hand and said to her, “little girl, I say to you get up! Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was 12 years old). At this they were completely astonished.”
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