WWJD: How Did Jesus Respond When the World Mocked Him?

WWPD? WWJD? 

In my last post, A Biblically Relevant Response to the Paris Olympic Opening Ceremonies, I looked at Acts 17:16-34 to explore how the Apostle Paul might have responded to the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. What would Paul do (WWPD)?

Today, we’re looking at 1 Peter to see how Jesus might have responded to the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. What would Jesus do (WWJD)?

The Controversy 

In my last post, I summarized the controversy, so I will not do that again here. In that previous post, I also noted that there is disagreement as to whether or not the controversial scene at the Opening Ceremonies intended to mock da Vinci’s “The Lord’s Supper.” Additionally, in my last post, I noted that Paul’s response in Acts 17 was relevant regardless of the specific intent of the Opening Ceremony scene.

Today, for the sake of argument, let’s assume that at least in part the Olympic Opening Ceremonies mocked Christianity. My question then is,

“How should Christians respond when their faith is mocked?”

My answer is,

“We should follow the model of Christ and respond like Christ did when He was mocked.”

WDJD: What Did Jesus Do? 

What did Jesus do when He was mocked and scorned; when He was persecuted, beaten and crucified? To answer that question, we could turn to any of the four Gospels.

Today, we’re turning to an eyewitness to the gospel—to Peter and to 1 Peter. This epistle is especially relevant because Peter writes his letter to believers who are scattered among unbelievers and being persecuted by non-Christians. See:

• 1 Peter 1:1, 6;
• 1 Peter 2:11-12, 19;
• 1 Peter 3:9, 14-17;
• 1 Peter 4:1-2; 12-19;
• 1 Peter 5:8-11.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus 

In this context of unjust suffering, Peter tells us to turn our eyes upon Jesus.

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:20-23).

It was this passage that inspired Charles Sheldon in 1896 to write his famous book, In His Steps, which has sold more than 50 million copies. It is this passage, many believe, that inspired the acronym WWJD: What Would Jesus Do?

According to 1 Peter 2:20-23, what did Jesus do when they hurled insults at Him?

1. He committed no sin.
2. No deceit was found in his mouth.
3. He did not retaliate.
4. He made no threats.
5. He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

In His Steps 

How can we follow in His steps? 1 Peter provides at least a dozen specific applications for dealing with persecution from the world.

1. Godly Living: Seek the Spirit’s empowerment to avoid sinful responses such as deceit (lying about the other person or the situation, mischaracterizing the situation), retaliation, making threats (1 Peter 2:20-23). Continue to do good (1 Peter 4:19).
2. Trust God: Entrust ourselves to God who judges justly. Our temptation when mocked or insulted is to defend ourselves against all unjust charges. We trust in our own ability to make ourselves look good. Peter commands us to trust in God’s ability in Christ to make us good—righteous in Christ. Trust the Good Shepherd to shepherd your soul, especially during times of mocking (1 Peter 2:23-25). Commit yourself to your faithful Creator (1 Peter 4:19).
3. Glorify God: Always, and especially during times of unjust suffering, revere Christ as Lord. Glorifying Christ is more important than defending our reputation (1 Peter 3:15).
4. Share Your Hope in God: As we engage those who mock us, we ask for God’s wisdom to give an answer for the reason for the hope within us. When the gospel is mocked, we enter into loving gospel conversations (1 Peter 3:15).
5. Share God’s Grace: When unbelievers mock us, we respond with grace, gentleness, and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
6. Respond with Godliness: We keep a clear conscience by refusing to insult those who insult us, by good and godly behavior even in response to mocking (1 Peter 3:16).
7. Rejoice in God: While acknowledging the pain of unjust mocking, we acknowledge the greater reality that our current sufferings are not worthy to be compared to our future glory. We praise God that we suffer for Christ (1 Peter 4:12-16; Romans 8:18).
8. Find Your Honor/Identity in God: When dishonored by others, find your honor in God. Find your identity not in what the world thinks of Christians, but in who you are in Christ. “If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed” (1 Peter 4:16).
9. Submit to God’s Conviction: Use even unjust, unfair, seemingly untrue false accusations as an opportunity to ask God’s Spirit to search your heart (1 Peter 4:17).
10. Maintain God’s View on the Cause of Suffering: Recognize the true source of persecution—Satan, the accuser of Christians. Peter alerts us to the reality that Satan is the ultimate source of all persecution of God’s people (1 Peter 5:8-9).
11. Empathize Like the God of All Comfort: Pray for your brothers and sisters suffering worse persecution than you. Remember that “the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9).
12. Stand Firm in God’s Grace: Stand firm in the faith. The God of all grace will Himself restore you and make you strong in the face of persecution (1 Peter 5:9-12).

A Dozen Self-Examination Questions 

Before we respond to the mocking of the world, we could first seek to apply a dozen “Peter Principles.” We can ask ourselves, “As I face persecution from the world:”

1. Am I living a godly live?
2. Am I trusting God?
3. Am I glorifying God?
4. Am I sharing my hope in God through gospel conversations?
5. Am I sharing God’s grace with gentleness and respect?
6. Am I responding with godliness?
7. Am I rejoicing in God?
8. Am I finding my identity in God?
9. Am I submitting my heart to God’s conviction?
10. Am I viewing the cause of suffering through God’s eyes?
11. Am I comforting others who are being persecuted?
12. Am I standing firm in God’s grace?

Some Things Not to Do 

I originally had this section first. But then I thought some people might read these and be upset and never read what Peter had to say. So, here are three things not to do, after having already looked at a dozen biblical responses. 

1. Please don’t say, “They only mock Christians!”

I’ve read several Christians complaining that, “they would never have mocked Islam or any other religion!”

Honestly, I’m shocked when I hear that. Are we not reading the news? Are we totally ignorant of history?

I believe our Jewish friends might want to have a word with us. “Antisemitism” is a word because there is a historical reality, not only of being mocked, but of being persecuted. Consider the entire history of the Jewish people. Consider the Holocaust. Consider October 7, 2023.

Consider other faiths. I did a quick Google search this morning on “religious persecution.” Yes, sadly, Christians around the world are being persecuted. However, so are Muslims, and Jews, and Buddhists, and every other faith, and even atheists. Here are just a few links for factual information about worldwide persecution: here, here, here, here, and here.

It is ridiculous to claim that only Christians are mocked or insulted or persecuted.

2. Please don’t “play the victim.” 

It is hypocritical when some of the people who are talking about how victimized Christians are by the world, are the same people who tell victims of clergy sexual abuse and clergy spiritual abuse to “suffer well” and “don’t give into victimization.”

I’m asking us to reserve the “victim language” for true victims of abuse and persecution.

I’m asking us to focus our concern on protecting and ministering to victims of sexual abuse, spiritual abuse, and domestic abuse.

3. Please don’t be shocked. Don’t expect unbelievers to be believers.

Peter said it well.

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

Unbelievers are going to act like unbelievers. People who do not worship Christ will not worship Christ. People who reject Christ will reject the beliefs of followers of Christ.

Answering Some Likely Questions 

My blog posts are typically longer than other people’s blog posts. But no post, no matter how long, can address every contingency. So here are three follow-up questions that I imagine people may be thinking about asking.

1. Are you saying Christians can’t speak the truth in love when the world mocks us? 

I’m not saying that as Christians we can’t be vexed, or disappointed, or “greatly distressed” (as Paul was in Acts 17:16).

Nor am I saying that we can’t confront false worship. Paul confronted false worship by sharing the good news of true worship of the One True God (Acts 17:17-34).

Can Christians be outraged if we perceive that the Lord’s Supper is being mocked? Yes. I’m not “outraged at outrage.”

I’m suggesting that the Bible says that our greatest outrage be at our own sin personally and at our own sin communally as Christians—such as the spiritual abuse crisis in the church and para-church and the sexual abuse crisis in the church and para-church. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, concerning sexual sin in the church:

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

In the context of persecution, mocking, suffering, and insults at the hands of unbelievers, Peter makes an identical point:

For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17).

When persecuted by the world, rather than focusing on judging the world, God commands us to focus on searching our own hearts.

2. Are you saying that when someone is being abused they can’t protect themselves or report their abuser?

No. Not at all.

I am an advocate for victims of sexual abuse. I am an advocate for victims of spiritual abuse. I am an advocate for victims of domestic abuse. I oppose the church commanding abuse victims to “suffer well,” and I exhort the church to focus on “protecting well.”

One of the major counseling problems we have when thinking through how to respond to abuse is applying biblical principles out of context.

The context in Peter is very specific—the unsaved world’s mocking of the Christian faith.

Other contexts in the Bible are equally clear about God’s view on abuse. For example, in Matthew 18:6 we hear Jesus saying:

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”

Abusers are to be confronted by the church and reported to the appropriate authorities.

Abuse victims are to be protected by the church and ministered to by the church.

Let’s not confuse the Bible’s teaching on responding to mocking by the world with the Bible’s teaching on responding to abuse.

3. Can’t we apply Jesus overthrowing the tables in the temple to this situation? 

Again, “context is king.” Jesus in the temple (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-16) is not about Jesus responding to the world’s persecution. It is about Jesus confronting the sin of the religious leaders.

Again, nothing in my post today suggests that we can’t be upset at sin or that we can’t speak against sin. Rather, I am seeking to ask and answer the question,

“What biblical text(s) are most relevant to a Christian response to Christianity being mocked?” 

In my previous post, I suggested that Acts 17:16-34 is an extremely relevant passage for how Paul responded to a situation similar to the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. In today’s post, I am suggesting that 1 Peter 1-5 is an extremely relevant passage for how Jesus responded to a situation similar to the Olympic Opening Ceremonies—the mocking of Christ/Christians.