August 25
Mockery and
Transformation
"Those who passed by shouted insults at him. They shook their heads and said,
'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 (NIrV)
David Freeman had made a career out of mocking people. As one of the most popular comedians in the country, his biting humor and sharp wit had earned him fame and fortune. On stage, he was untouchable—his sharp tongue could tear down anyone, from celebrities to politicians, to even the most sacred of institutions. His audience adored him for it. They laughed, they cheered, and they loved his fearless irreverence.
One evening, David stood in front of a packed house, basking in the glow of the spotlight. His new routine was his best yet—filled with hilarious takes on politics, pop culture, and religion. He knew the crowd would eat it up, especially the bit about Jesus. He had been working on it for weeks, thinking it would be the highlight of his performance. His material was edgy, irreverent—mocking not only the church but the very idea of a savior.
“They say Jesus could heal the sick, right?” David began with a smirk, “Well, maybe He should’ve healed Himself, because I’ve got some serious issues with this cross thing.” The crowd roared with laughter. David continued, feeding off their energy. “If He’s really the Son of God, why didn’t He just get off that cross? Like, come on, if I could do that, I’d save myself, wouldn’t you?”
The audience laughed louder, clapping and cheering him on. David felt invincible. This was the height of his career—nothing could touch him now. His jokes about Jesus, the Son of God, seemed to strike a chord with the crowd. The more he mocked, the more they laughed, and the more confident he became in his ability to make light of even the most sacred things.
But as he finished his set and walked off stage, a strange feeling began to settle in his chest. It was like a heaviness that he couldn’t shake. The laughter still echoed in his ears, but something inside him felt off. He had joked about faith, about Jesus, and he had seen people laugh at things that had once seemed so sacred to him. He thought about his own childhood, the church services his mom had dragged him to, and how he had stopped going to church years ago. Yet, he still remembered how something about the idea of Jesus had always made him feel safe, grounded.
Later that night, alone in his hotel room, the weight of his words pressed down on him. His mind replayed the jokes, the laughter, and the mocking words he had used. A nagging thought began to invade his mind: “What if I’ve been wrong? What if all this time I’ve been mocking something real?” The question haunted him, but he didn’t know where to turn.
David tried to shake it off, but the next morning, the thought lingered. He couldn’t ignore it any longer. Something inside of him had changed. He hadn’t expected it. He wasn’t even sure how to describe it. But as he sat quietly in his hotel room, he did something he hadn’t done in years. He prayed. Hesitantly, he said, “God… if you’re real, if Jesus really is who He says He is, I need to know. I don’t want to keep making light of something that could be true. Show me, God.”
For the first time in years, David felt the stirring of something inside him—like a small, quiet voice calling him to something greater than fame or jokes. He didn’t know what to expect, but in that moment, he realized that faith wasn’t about mockery or fame; it was about humility, respect, and truth. His jokes had been funny in the moment, but they had never touched on the deeper need for connection and understanding.
The next day, David stood in front of his audience again. This time, as he looked out at the sea of faces, he couldn’t bring himself to make the same jokes. Instead, he said, “You know, last night, I said some things that I thought were funny. But the truth is, I don’t think I really get what faith is about. Maybe I’ve been wrong. Maybe I need to learn more.”
The crowd was silent for a moment, unsure of where this was going. But David felt a strange peace wash over him. He didn’t have all the answers. He didn’t have it all figured out. But he was ready to stop mocking what he didn’t understand and take a step toward something real. It wasn’t about fame, jokes, or applause anymore. It was about finding the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it felt.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I come before You with a heart that has been humbled.
I’ve laughed at things I didn’t understand, mocked what I didn’t fully grasp.
But today, I ask for Your forgiveness.
Help me to find truth, to find peace in the moments where I’ve been lost.
Show me the way to walk in faith, in humility, and in understanding.
I know I don’t have all the answers, but I trust that You will guide me.
Thank you for Your patience and Your grace.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
