| Christ's Humor |
|
| |
One of the topics that came up in a small group discussion I had the other week has inspired me to do some digging. I am interested in learning more about each of your thoughts on the subject of Christ's sense of humor.
I've found one sermon on-line that references Christ's humor. The verse the preacher references is Matthew 17:24-27. 17:24 And when they had come to Capernaum, those who took the Temple tax came to Peter and said, Does not your master make payment of the Temple tax? 17:25 He says, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus said to him, What is your opinion, Simon? from whom do the kings of the earth get payment or tax? from their sons or from other people? 17:26 And when he said, From other people, Jesus said to him, Then are the sons free. 17:27 But, so that we may not be a cause of trouble to them, go to the sea, and let down a hook, and take the first fish which comes up; and in his mouth you will see a bit of money: take that, and give it to them for me and you. One point that the preacher makes is that it takes a little 'reading between the lines' to find Christ's sense of humor.
If you have the time and the desire to read more - here's the link to the full sermon.
http://www.godsgrace.org/sermons/genius/genius6.htm
It seems to me that most of the biblical references to laughter are more geared towards the nervous laughter or the doubter's laugh. Starting with Abraham and Sarah in Gen 17:17 and Gen 18:12.
17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
18:12 And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
The more I think about it, It is hard for me to think of Christ not laughing or seeing the lighter side of certain situations. Laughing is part of being human and as it says in Eccl 3:4 there is a time for everything, including laughing.
I'm sure I'm not alone in having experienced moments where I've laughed so hard that tears have come to my face. I've also had a handful of moments where I've cried so hard a smile came to my face. One time in particular I was mourning the death of a friend. As I sat at the shore of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, NY I felt as if my soul had been brought to the deepest depths, down with the pre-historic sized sturgeon fish that have never seen the light of day. After a period of time sitting and feeling this deepest, darkest sorrow I had my Ah-ha moment. "This is what it means to be human" At that moment the tears stopped. A smile came to my face followed by a sense of joy throughout my whole body. .
Thank you for reading this message. I look forward to hearing and reading your thoughts. |
|
Follow this blog
