"Persecuted By Mockery"

Written by Robert E. Bailes

How Does Mockery Make You Feel?

Have you ever found yourself suddenly under attack because of what you believed? This is something that you could just as easily experience in the church as you could outside of the church. I remember hanging out with friends when I was a teenager and hearing some of them really criticizing the teen pastor or maybe one of the other teens who was really trying to live right and taking a stand for what they believed. It seemed as though they had felt threatened by the stand of those they were criticizing. This also happens in the political arena when someone stands up for what they believe. We certainly see allot of mockery going on when protesters carry the posters of their opponents that are disfigured and marked up to make them appear as someone or something degrading. Yes, we often are so quick to criticize or mock someone without thinking about the long term effect we might have on their life.

We are dealing with the hurt and the holes left by the tongue through mockery.

We see in the eighteenth chapter of 1 kings that Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal when he cried out: for he is god; either he is talking, or pursuing or on a journey or maybe he is asleep and needs to be awakened. Then in verse twenty-eight it says that they cried out and cut themselves with knives till their blood gushed out on themselves. Elijah's mocking had caused them to become enraged because their god had not lit the sacrifice that they had prepared on their alter. This was pretty embarrassing already because there were four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of the groves standing there calling out to Baal in front of the children of Israel on mount Carmel and here stood Elijah the prophet of the Lord all by himself. Ahab had sent every possible force he had to search for Elijah and kill him because Elijah had been warning the cities when Ahab's armies were going to attack and preparing them for it ahead of time. When Ahab got word of this prophet, he wanted him dead. Then Elijah had the nerve began to mock these prophets and king who had wanted to see him dead. The difference was that Elijah was getting ready to display the work of the Lord to win the hearts of all of those who were on that mount that day. God was going to send down fire and consume a sacrifice that was totally soaked with water!

1Kings 18:27,28 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.


My point here is that these prophets became so angry when Elijah mocked them that they began to cut themselves with knives until their blood gushed out. Wow! Have you ever been mocked or teased to the point of wanting to do harm to yourself? Maybe not, but we hear of people leaving notes behind after going on shooting sprees and ultimately taking their own lives. Mockery is a powerful and destroying force that all starts with the tongue. It is with the mouth that man reveals what is in his heart. Are there holes in your heart pierced by the tongue of someones mocking and criticism.

I know there are many parents who have been through this with a child who wanted their independence long before they were ready to be independent. The child that you nurtured and loved said things that pierced you to the core because you have loved them all their life. There are those who have been living in criticism ever since they were married. Some of you have been mocked and criticised for the way that you want to raise your children because it's not the popular trend or you want to keep your children from the influence of the modern day worshippers of Baal.

I'm sure that those prophets had mocked and ran the children of Israel down before Baal had failed the prophets and the Lord through Elijah had shown His power. I'm sure the children of Israel had been waiting for the Lord to reveal the truth to these followers of idols and probably even grew impatient in waiting for the mockery to end.

1Kings 18:19,20 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.


I know we all have experienced this in some way in our life whether it came from a sibling, classmate, parent, teacher, coach, church member, religious leader, spouse, friend or stranger, there has been mockery since the beginning of timeSatan knows that we as humans struggle with our pride and mockery challenges and can cause our pride to bow up and do ludicrous things as a result. Jesus as the perfect man was even attacked by satan in His last hours using mockery and criticism. He experienced the people in the crowd hitting him and then yelling out, "If you are the son of God, tell us who hit you".

You see, they knew that the Son of God was suppose to know everything but they didn't believe because of their sinful spirit. Do you know how Jesus dealt with this without loosing His control and destroying them all? Did you know that He could have done this from the very beginning? That's right! He let them do this to Him because He had to suffer with us even unto death to redeem us from our sins forever. The reason I know He could have stopped it is found in verse fifty-three of chapter twenty-six in Matthew when Jesus told his disciple to put his sword away. The people had come to the garden to take Jesus to the high priest and one of the disciples had pulled out his sword to fight when Jesus set him straight on who was really in control here.

Matthew 26:52,53 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Jesus knew what He was going to experience and yet He allowed it! He understands our hurts and He understands the way that we feel when we are mocked and criticised! Jesus cares about each of us and it is His will that the holes left in our hearts be healed so that we can experience the NEW Life in Christ. Follow His example as He was led to the cross and join Him in His final words today so that you, like Jesus, can be healed. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do".

Take a few minutes in silence and think about the people who caused you hurt and pain by mockery and criticism. Maybe they still do and you need help to get through each day. If you remember people that have done this to you and put the holes in your heart, chances are you still need to settle this with God so that those holes will heal.

Take time right now to forgive them of the hurt they have caused you and let God heal your heart.


Matthew 5:1-12 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.