38 Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 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!”
41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “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. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The people that were passing by, the chief priests, teachers of the law and the elders, even the robbers who were being crucified along with our Lord Jesus had the audacity to continuously hurl forth verbal assaults of mocking, scoffing and insults against the Master. One would have reasoned that when they had nailed Him to the cross they had done their worst. A dying man – even an infamous man – should have been treated with more compassion. Christ suffered the utmost indignity that could be done to the worst of men - all for mankind’s sake. Yet, it seemed no one showed Him any respect. No one appeared to care rather continued to heap insult upon insult. King David rightly depicts our Lord’s suffering these offensive abuses the following way in the Psalms:
7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 8 “He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” Psalms 22:7-8 (NIV)
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. Psalms 109:25 (NIV)
It appears the crowds were caught up in waves of scoffing allowing their tongues to wag evil, unanimously honoring our Lord with great contempt. How heartless and cruel when hanging on the cross all sorts of horrid jests and hideous taunts were hurled at the Christ. Ridicule is always difficultly hard to bear but when one is in intense pain it cuts to the quick. To be sure, it is the bluffing bullies that like to taunt – those with no strength but a lot of useless hot air. Indeed, this was the hour when darkness reigned.
“O Jesus, ‘despised and rejected of men,’ how couldst Thou die for men who treated Thee so ill? Herein is love amazing, love divine, yea, love beyond degree. We, too, have despised Thee in the days of our unregeneracy, and even since our new birth we have set the world on high in our hearts, and yet Thou bleedest to heal our wounds, and diest to give us life. O that we could set Thee on a glorious high throne in all men’s hearts! We would ring out Thy praises over land and sea till men should as universally adore as once they did unanimously reject.” Charles H. Spurgeon
It was also a great reproach to Jesus that He was crucified with such vile malefactors. Indeed, it was an additional insult to be crucified in the middle of them as if He were the worst of the three. He was, at His death numbered among the transgressors so that we at our death might be numbered among the saints. It appears every circumstance was thought of for His dishonor. Yet, if there had been no cross, then no Christ and no crown. Additionally, those who reign with Him must also be willing to suffer with Him for Christ and His cross are nailed together in this world. Suffering for Jesus is not to be considered accidental or a divine punishment. Believing in Christ and suffering for Him are both associated with God’s grace in Scripture. The word translated “granted” in the below verse is derived from a Greek word meaning “favor” or “grace” Paul tells us in Philippians:
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Phil 1:29-30 (NIV)
“When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.” Isaac Watts