I had never heard the word derision and had to look up its meaning: contemptuous ridicule or mockery. The word "derision" in comparing it to the gospel, is offensive. We assume when Jesus Christ spoke truth that offended that he was being sarcastic. That is not the Jesus I know. (Luke 18: 22-23) "Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich." Is not "derision"...it is love.
John 8:44-47 is not "derision" ...it is love.
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. [45] And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. [46] Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? [47] He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."
The truth is offensive. The gospel is offensive because it is truth. Jesus was offensive because he spoke truth. Paul was offensive and it landed him in a hole in the ground saying "rejoice in the Lord always."
God is offensive because God is truth.
The world hates the truth, so they hate us.
John 3:20-21
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The trouble is we think we know better than what the gospel teaches which is truth, so we CALL it mockery and sarcastic and not love. We do not even know what love means yet we make ourselves the judge of what is love and what love is not. God's definition of love is different than the worlds. If you don't believe it, just look toward the crucifixion. Many find it offensive. 1 Corinthians 13:6 "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;"
John 14:28 "Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."
If you loved me...
Love in not participating in the delusion of man to keep the peace. Keeping peace among all men(if possible) is not participating in their delusion to keep peace, but to speak truth so they may have real peace. John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." The only peace (rest) can be found outside of a lie. Love is not contributing to someone remaining underneath a lie. When Stephen spoke: "howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands" which was the truth they needed to hear (especially Saul)... the truth was offensive. Stephen did not use "derision". Stephen used love. The word gives the message to overcome evil with love. Deception is evil.
Galatians 4:16
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Anyone that says the gospel is not offensive...is a liar. They don't know the gospel. They live under a false definition of "love" and pacify their image among men in hopes they do not have to suffer rejection for the gospels sake. Matthew 13: 21 "Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.