Mark 15:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The blinded world does not cherish truth and righteousness. Christ, who is the eternal Truth, embodied truthfulness in all His actions, striving for the edification of humanity while teaching unwavering truth. Consequently, He was reviled and maligned by a world enveloped in darkness and deception. Just as diseased eyes reject light, lies detest the truth, and falsehood is at odds with reality.

As a result, pastors and ministers of the Truth, along with proclaimers of the heavenly message, often endure hatred and slander from wicked individuals. Their unrighteousness and dark deeds are confronted by the illuminating light of divine teaching, which serves as a reprimand that the malevolent find torturous (Proverbs 9:7). The wicked experience rebuke like a piercing fork. The experiences of Old Testament prophets, apostles, and faithful saints who faced persecution for God's Word and truth corroborate this reality. What should contemporary preachers of truth anticipate from a corrupt world? For anyone who fears God, it is wise to dismiss the blasphemies aimed at pastors and instructors and to endeavor to silence those who malign. The devil employs cunning tactics to promote slander against the messengers of truth, aiming to tarnish their reputations so that people might doubt their words, leading to their eternal demise. This is the intention of the evil one, and it is through his malice that shepherds face blasphemy and calumny. Beware of this, O Christian! If you hear anyone speaking ill of a shepherd, recognize it as the evil one using their voice as a tool for his wickedness.

All true Christians are similarly subject to abusive remarks and hatred. Historical accounts reveal that pagans concocted various and heinous lies against Christians, hurling every kind of disgraceful name at them. Such actions clearly stem from the devil's influence, aiming to divert Christians from their faith, instilling fear in idolaters to avoid it. However, through God's wisdom and might, the sinister plots of the evil spirit were thwarted. Paradoxically, the more slanders and persecutions mounted against Christians, the more their numbers grew. Today, it is not just idolaters perpetuating lies against Christians but also false brethren and lovers of worldly pleasures and pride. From this insincere fellowship, Christians endure a myriad of slanders, adorned in various insults. Among the usual ungodly taunts, they craft countless blasphemies and scorn against the faithful. If a Christian chooses to forsake luxury and sinful behaviors, they are labeled ‘schismatic’. If someone leads a humble life and renounces showiness, they are deemed a ‘prude’. Should someone retreat for the sake of repentance and to guard against sin (as it is often easier to repent in solitude than in public), they are called a ‘saint’. If a person mourns over their sins and sighs deeply, they are termed ‘melancholic’. Those who engage in charitable giving are accused of being ‘vain’ and ‘hypocritical’. If they learn that a Christian is devoted to prayer, nicknames like ‘mantis’ arise. If a believer refrains from seeking revenge against an offender, they criticize, calling him a ‘fool’ for not defending himself. If one adheres to the Gospel principle of giving possessions to the poor, they are confronted head-on and reproached as being mad for squandering their ancestors' inheritance. These and similar blasphemies flow from the mouths of the wicked against the righteous. Christ the Lord offered us comfort, stating that if the master of the house is called Beelzebub, how much more will his household be likewise reviled? (Matthew 10:25). Just as they blasphemed Christ, the Lord of all, they will also speak ill of His followers. If they expelled Christ, they will also expel His followers. A servant is not greater than his master (John 15:20). This reflects the plight of Christians in our present age.

Christians are not of this world, as they are described by Christ: They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world (John 17:14). Therefore, the world ostracizes and scoffs at them for being different. This is another of the devil’s schemes designed to mislead the righteous from the path of goodness. This reflects the cunning deception of the evil spirit. The Lord is your protector; He is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The Lord will keep your coming in and your going out now and forevermore (Psalm 120:3-8).

It is unbecoming for Christians to retaliate with blasphemy against those who blaspheme, nor should they reproach those who bring them shame, for the latter actions contradict the Christian faith. Instead, they ought to emulate the example of their Lord, Jesus, who, when insulted, did not retaliate (1 Peter 2:23), and, like a lamb before its shearer, remained silent (Isaiah 53:7). Evil cannot be vanquished by evil, and insult cannot quell insult; rather, it only intensifies. The victory of a Christian does not lie in vengeance but in humility and patience. Therefore, as Christ's flock, Christians should confront their accusers with gentleness and not return evil for evil or insult for insult. They ought to resist anger towards such individuals, showing compassion instead, for blasphemers are possessed by the devil—and should pray for their salvation so that they need not remain captives to him forever.

In their trials, Christians should hold fast to the encouraging words of Christ: If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; however, you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you (John 15:18-20). Strengthen your hearts, beloved! Allow the world to act as it will against you; take comfort in belonging to Christ. Let them revile you, for you are a part of Christ’s family. The honor and glory of being one with Christ are immeasurable, even if it remains hidden from the world. Rejoice that the world despises you; God loves you. Bear in mind that while the world may curse you, God blesses you. They dare to curse, but you should respond with blessings (Psalm 108:28). In this, find peace and solace. The world may plot against you, but God turns its schemes to your benefit. Pharaoh, who tormented Israel, hardened his heart, yet Israel emerged from Egypt with riches. Endure whatever this world may throw at you. You will depart from this world only to present yourself before your Father in heaven, adorned with spiritual riches—treasures not of this earthly realm.

Those who mock and blaspheme will eventually face their reckoning. They may roar like rushing waters in the springtime, but they will vanish like a flowing stream; they may rise like smoke, but they will dissipate like vapor. This is their nature and their fate. The righteous God hears their blasphemies and insults that wound the souls of the righteous. He listens and records their words, which will be laid bare before their eyes—revealing the very one they scorned and ridiculed, not as they once mocked him, but within the glory of His chosen ones among the sons of God: behold your schismatic, your prude, your melancholic, your fool! Observe him and contemplate if this is the individual whom you once derided, condemned, and blasphemed. Oh, what shame and fear will then engulf the mockers! Their faces will be shrouded in disgrace! The righteous will stand boldly before those who once insulted and belittled him; they will find themselves enveloped in overwhelming confusion and fear, marveling at the unexpectedness of salvation. They will lament and sigh in their spirits, recognizing: This is the same one whom we held in contempt. We deemed his life foolishness and his death disgraceful! Why then is he numbered among the sons of God, and why is his inheritance with the saints? (Prem. 5:1-5). Wretched souls! God desires you to walk in humility and repentance for your salvation, not to cast slurs at the humble and righteous. Repent, lest the wrath of God descends upon you.

To illustrate their concerns about this Galilean, they highlighted the remarkable loyalty of the crowds who followed Him, a multitude that awaited merely the right moment to rise up with force. They could even label some of the Lord's actions, such as His cleansing of the temple of merchants, as disruptions to public order (not referring to His miracles, which they sought to downplay). Among other charges, some scribes pointed out (Luke 23:5) that Jesus had defied the law, not just in Judea, but had long drawn many Galileans to Him, marking the inception of His ministry. Such statements painted Jesus as a significant instigator, whose influence extended beyond Judea to neighboring territories.

The very idea of sentencing an innocent Man to death troubled even a Roman governor. Nevertheless, the chief priests intensified their pressure, directly accusing Jesus of inciting rebellion. They claimed He was misleading the people and forbidding them to pay taxes to Caesar, effectively expanding upon their original charges (Luke 23:2). They insisted that Jesus had brought such teachings from Galilee.

As Pilate grew more sympathetic towards the Prisoner and sought to extricate himself from this exceedingly challenging matter of justice, he resolved to take advantage of the situation and transfer the Prisoner to the authorities of His homeland (Luke 23:6).