“And the men who were restraining him mocked and beat him. And they covered his eyes and questioned him, saying, ‘Prophesy, which one is it that struck you?’ And many other blasphemous things they spoke to him.”

(Luke 22:63-65)

Mockery and scorn seem to be two of the devil’s favorite tactics. They are the tools of the uninformed cowards because no understanding, knowledge, or reasoning skill is a prerequisite for such actions. And, like a pack of dogs, these wicked men have descended upon the Lord of peace. In terms of covering Jesus’ eyes, there is a good chance that it was a hood that they placed on him, not a blindfold — the text simply says that they covered him so he could not see — and again, this kind of tactic is the mark of cowards who cannot bear to look their victim in the eyes and who, in the midst of the other brutes, has no sense or care for justice. This night was the devil’s field day.

Yet, I wonder how often we give way to things like mockery and scorn — even to abuse. Though we know what is right, we allow these tactics to silence us as Christians in a world that considers Christianity to be little more than a personal preference and irrelevant to the rest of life. Then again, if Christians are silent, one might be tempted to suggest that we have conceded the field of engagement to them. Sad, because we are armed with Truth while their weapons have no substance of their own.

Remember, Christ chose to accept and receive scorn on your behalf — we ought to be ready to endure scorn (or worse!) on His behalf.