The Soldiers Mock Jesus—Matthew 27:27–31 Open It 1. *What effect do you think violence in the media has on our society? 2. Which is worse, physical or emotional pain? Why? 3. What are the most common ways Christians are mocked? Explore It 1. *Who took charge of the flogging and crucifixion of Jesus? (27:26–27) 2. How many people were involved in torturing Jesus? (27:27) 3. *Where did the guards take Jesus? Why? (27:27–28) 4. *Once they had Jesus inside, what did the guards do? (27:27–31) 5. What did the guards make Jesus wear? (27:28–29) 6. What did the soldiers put on Jesus’ head? Why? (27:29) 7. In what way did these soldiers mock Jesus? (27:29) 8. With what did the soldiers ridicule Christ? (27:29) 9. What types of emotional and physical abuse did the guards inflict on Christ? (27:30) 10. After mocking Jesus, what did the soldiers do? (27:31) Get It 1. Why did Christ put up with torture when He could have destroyed all His attackers? 2. What do you think the soldiers were thinking as they mocked, taunted, and assaulted Jesus? 3. What would you do if you came upon a group of friends who were abusing (either verbally or physically) some helpless individual? 4. What can we do to curb the abusive mentality of others? 5. Why do people pick on helpless individuals? 6. In what ways does evil become easier to justify when many people are doing it? 7. *What evils have become legitimized by consensus in our society today? 8. *What can Christians do to resist the tendency for evil to spread once it becomes common? 9. What sorts of opposition should we expect to face when resisting popular evils? Apply It 1. Whom can you encourage this week who has been facing persecution? 2. What can you do or say to speak out against an evil that is being accepted as normal? 3. *In what way can you be a peacemaker this week at home, at work, or among your neighbors?