One would think that this was said about some kind of fool, yet it is written about Jesus Christ: “And they laughed Him to scorn.” Why did they do that? Because they neither understood nor believed what He said. When do people think that this is a reason for laughter? When they, in their arrogance, think that whatever they do not understand must be madness, because, of course, “I understand everything.” However, those who laughed Him to scorn experienced to their shame that their laughter was the laughter of fools. The saying “He who laughs last, laughs best” was fulfilled. “He was despised, and we considered Him as nothing.Norwegian Bible translation” Who? Jesus Christ, Lord of lords and King of kings! How could people do that? By thinking, in their arrogance, that they could judge all true greatness, whereas the truth is that His standard of values was completely unknown to them. His greatness and this world’s greatness are perfect opposites! Everything that is great in man’s eyes is an abomination in the sight of God! Since Jesus was free from this world’s greatness, their judgment had to be precisely this: He was nothing! The consequence of this had to be: “And rejected by men.” Isa. 53:3. If someone is nothing, it cannot be beneficial to stay close to that person. It is extremely significant that this mighty Son of God, in spite of His many good deeds and miracles, and even in spite of His resurrection, was not able to gather more than 120 souls during His lifetime on earth, souls who were waiting for His promise: the outpouring of His Spirit. His greatness had not attracted very many people! It is written about Paul that they considered his speech as nothing. It could only lead to a greatness that was nothing in the eyes of man. His speech did not promote the greatness that these people desired! Jesus was—just as every prophet or spiritual person is—despised in His home and by His own family and in His hometown. Why was He despised more there than in other places? Because there was more opportunity in His hometown to get tired of looking at what is lowly in man’s eyes, the very thing that is so rooted and grounded in every spiritual person’s inner man. This heavenly greatness is so despicable in man’s eyes because people are vain, haughty, and conceited. According to the word, “There is nothing new under the sun,” people will repeatedly despise and laugh at you if you uphold that which is great in God’s eyes.Elias Aslaksen