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Mar 24
2008
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"Jesus Wept." That one is in there. John 11:35. But "Jesus was keeled over, laughing" is not there. And oh how I wish it was. I thought about this further this weekend during Jim's Easter message.
I often hear people talk about God having a sense of humor. I suppose it is possible, but it has always been a bit of an exegetical stretch to me to see that in scripture. Mark Driscoll preached a sermon on humor , and while it made several assertions that God has a sense of humor, for me--one who is easily counted among the "serious types"-- Driscoll's case, and those of others', has not been compelling enough. (Mark is funny to be sure (though edgy); however, while his points have merit, I am a hard nut to crack.
The Book of Matthew on DVD has helped me unlock my serious assumptions of Jesus a little, but I heistate to put too much weight on their protrayals of Jesus being so jovial. I don't believe my reluctance has to do as much with the portrayals as much as my serious bent. I'm working to overcome it, but I am cautious to do so.
This weekend, something clicked in the story of the two guys on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35. I really cannot imagine that Jesus said "What things?" (v. 19) without some kind of smile, at least inside. As Jim was talking, I actually pictured Jesus pulling his hood a little further over his face to conceal his smile as he thought about the weight of the joy that he had just purchased and how he would get to now, as they walked along this road, unwrap this suprise present for them.
I welcome your comments on this post. Help me see that Jesus was funny.
written by Cyndi Steenberg , April 11, 2008
I'm with ya Bryan! it's ironic that I was just pondering this question myself the other morning and I kind of came to the conclusion that it will be one of the joys I'll get to experience in Heaven - to laugh with joy and probably even hillarity with Jesus one day. There's nothing more refreshing or enjoyable then laughing until your sides ache or you have tears coming out of your eyes - how can that not come from our loving God?
Thanks for everybody's insights and thoughts. 
written by Bryan Hansen , March 25, 2008
I guess I need to clarify a little better what my hang-up is (and this is not to say that any of these posts are not meritorious). I don't doubt that Jesus smiled or had joy. I don't doubt that he liked parties or having fun. I don't doubt that he laughed with kids. And I don't doubt that his pointing to the ridiculous deeds and attitudes of the Pharisees through sarcasm may be seen as humorous.
But sarcasm in and of itself is not necessarily funny; rather, it is a literary device used to make a point--one in which you don't need to smile. I hear people make sarcastic remarks all the time that are just plain mean or a means to exalt oneself over another person. I also think that Jesus, in his role as a prophet and as the Son of God had license to rebuke the Pharisees, Much as Isaiah, or Jeremiah may have done. But we can see in his words to the people in Matt 23 that he told them in a sense to respect the authority that they represent (Moses' seat) by doing what they tell them to do, but not doing what they do. Likewise, Paul also had regard for the office of High Priest (Acts 23).
So while Jesus smiled, and had joy, in some of these cases, I guess I am not convinced that it could not just as easily have been said in all seriousness.
Perhaps a better question to ask is this: what is Godly humor? Obviously all the humorous devices can be (and have been) used in course joking or in some other kind of "holy joking" I suppose.
I don't want to get in an overly lengthy discussion about humor: what I do want to see in a more compelling way is biblical evidence that God/Jesus has a sense of humor. I think this is different from laughing (which I would still like one of the gospel writers to have included somewhere) or from being happy or joyful, or hanging out with people.
written by Tim Quick , March 24, 2008
While Joy is much deeper than humor, isn't a smile linked to both? Wouldn't the alternative to humor being from God be that it is from Satan or sin? I suppose then that when a baby laughed, it would be evidence of their sinful nature...I don't think so
. Here's some verses that link laughter to rejoicing in God's works or goodness/ Ps. 126:1-2; Luke 6:21;Gen. 21:6; Zep. 3:17 
written by Tammy Wold , March 24, 2008
Hey -
Three books that you might want to check out:
"The Humor of Jesus" by Earl F. Palmer
"The Humor of Christ" by Elton Trueblood
"The Humor of Jesus" by Henri Cormier
written by Tammy Wold , March 24, 2008
I do, indeed, believe that Jesus was funny and I see much in Scripture to support it.
First, Jesus makes the point that people find it easy to blame others for mistakes instead of first doing some self-examination for their own errors. He remarks: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
A few verses later, in making a new point to do with the generosity of the Father, Jesus asks, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or, if he asks you for a fish, will give him a snake?"
Jesus used a lot of sarcastic humor. He did things that people may laugh at but still proved a point-he showed no stupidity in his humor...but his dry humor worked-it made people listen and did get mixed reactions.
Jesus was a joyful person, continually urging his followers to be joyful. In John 15:11 He explains to His disciples, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Jesus was all for happiness. Don't miss the point in the Beatitudes by making the word "blessed" to be some solemn, otherworldly virtue. Scholars agree that the word Jesus used in Matthew 5 translated "blessed" could just as well read "how happy", as in, "How happy are the poor in spirit." Jesus' conclusion is clear (Matthew 5:12).
Jesus also appeared to love a party as funny as it may sound-well maybe he wasn't "boogying down to the middle eastern sounds", but he loved to attend events where plenty of people were present. He performed His first miracle so that a wedding could continue. In Luke 15, every parable ends with a party. The story of the prodigal son ends with a party, and the older son who would not attend the party is portrayed as the one with the problem. In fact, the picky people around Jesus criticized him for being a glutton and having such a good time (Luke 7:34). His long list of friends included people from every strata of society.
The children loved Jesus too and let's face it...children don't like meanies. In order for a child to truly love and be attached to someone (besides family), that person has to have a great generous heart and plenty of humor...Jesus obviously had both. His disciples thought that Jesus must have had better things to do than to talk to the children, but Jesus loved it..."Let the children come to Me, and don't hinder them." (Matthew 14:19)
My conclusion? Yes, Jesus had a sense of humor-He laughed and made people laugh. Many look past the humor and take Jesus so seriously, but in order for Him to connect to humanity He had to be just like us in terms of recognizable traits...humor is one of them and He used it to win many people's hearts.
Convinced yet??
