DoublePortion_October2023_8.5x5.5_REV.indd

mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His proph ets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:15,16). Of course, nothing compares to what Jesus faced, especially that related to the crucifixion. Here, they were not just mocking a man of God, but the Son of God. Arrested, blindfolded, and beaten, Jesus was asked, “Prophesy, who is the one who hitYou? (Luke 22:64). Soon thereafter, Romans soldiers placed a crown of thorns on His head and a reed in His right hand, then “they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying,‘Hail, King of the Jews!’They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head” (Matthew 27:29,30). Later, the scribes mocked Him saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself” (Mark 15:31). As Jesus hung on the cross, Roman soldiers mocked Him, saying, “IfYou are the King of the Jews, saveYourself!” as the unrepentant thief beside Him chimed in, “Are You not the Christ? SaveYourself and us!” (Luke 23:37,39). What Elisha experienced pales in comparison to what Jesus endured. Nevertheless, this verbal assault from the Bethany boys would not go unpunished. As the Bible says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).That said, note the consequences these rebellious young men faced, which came in two phases. First, the curse- Responding to these boys, Elisha “Turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord” (2 Kings 2:24).This brings to mind the curse pronounced upon Cain for killing his brother Abel and then lying about it. After this horrific act, the Lord said to Cain, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand” (Genesis 4:10.11). As a result, the ground no longer produced a crop for Cain, who then became a vagrant and wander er on the earth.

66