This week we’re discussing The Pentecost from Acts 2.

Mock can mean to mimic, or to scorn. My perception is that both often happen at the same time,

where we are prone to mimic the scorn from others around us.

Thinking on this, I just went to lookup what I thought was an old hymn, only to discover that

“How Deep the Father’s Love” was written in 1995 by Stuart Townend and published in 1996.

While I recover from realizing that I am personally much older than this hymn, let me share this

haunting verse from it:

Behold the man upon a cross,

My sin upon His shoulders;

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers.

Mockingbirds have nothing on us humans. They can imitate other birds’ calls, but we naturally

mimic the words, behavior, and attitudes of our peers, often without realizing it. One of our

natural defense mechanisms when feeling jealous, confused, or threatened is to mock:

They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?”

But some sneered and said, “They’re full of new wine!” (Acts 2:12-13 HCSB)

In these two verses we see two types of responses to a confusing situation. First is a sincere,

open-ended question seeking to understand: what could this be? The second response includes

both the sneering type of mocking plus the mimicking type of mocking. Like a barking dog

setting off the others in the neighborhood, one mocker in a crowd can transform it into a cynical

chorus.

As someone personally prone to skepticism, who just might have been one of the sneering

mockers both on the day of crucifixion and again at the Pentecost, this verse is an important

reminder:

How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of

sinners

or join a group of mockers! (Psalm 1:1 HCSB)



It’s a humbling thought. I can’t close this out any better than just going back to the hymn where

we started:

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer;

But this I know with all my heart:

His wounds have paid my ransom.

By Mark Stuart

Mark is the husband of Laura, father of Shelby and Jacob, and father-in-law of Bailey.