We O so SERIOUS members of CC, did Jesus ever laugh or joke?

[Angela53510]

Actually, Jesus did tell a kind of Middle Eastern joke - he used puns! Plays on words all the time.

Where you ask?

Well, it doesn't come through in the English or Greek, it only comes through in the Aramaic. Which was the common language of the day, and is actually used in a few places in the Bible, like some verses in Daniel, I believe.

And example would be Matt 23:23-24

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. [SUP]24 [/SUP]You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!"

Jesus contrasts the meticulous concern of Pharisees in straining their beverages lest they swallow a gnat and become ceremonially unclean. (Lev. 11:41) Yet such scrupulous religious observance was accompanied by the rejection of mercy, justice, and love in their dealings with their fellow man. The pun is not evident in English, but in Aramaic there is a clear play on words. Jesus in his example is not merely contrasting the size of a camel with the size of a gnat, he could have used a lot of other words like tree or elephant. "Camel" and "gnat" both look alike and sound alike in Aramaic

In Aramaic the word for gnat is galma and the word for camel is gamla. Jesus in his example made a pun. What he said was "You blind guides, you strain out a galma but turn around and swallow a gamla!"

The list goes on and on of Jesus using these plays on words. Google it and see what you find!

(Remember humour is different in different times and cultures!)

 

[Graybeard]

Does God have a sense of humor?.... Read the story of Jonah....now that's funny!

and this to me is funny too....
1Ki 18:45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
1Ki 18:46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

 

[RickShafer]

Does God have a sense of humor?.... Read the story of Jonah....now that's funny!

and this to me is funny too....
1Ki 18:45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
1Ki 18:46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Yea. Also see Elisha speaking to Jehoshaphat,......while completely ignoring the king of the northern 10 tribes.
When he is questioned as to why, he says - "Unless Jehoshaphat was here, I would neither speak to thee, or see thee."

 

[Bridget_Left_China]

I don't think we would be laugh-y creatures if that's not what God intended. Does anyone think humans invented laughter or humor? Come on now. Just because Jesus isn't recorded as having a good chuckle at something doesn't mean He didn't do it. It also doesn't mention His many trips to the restroom, but I am positive he did that too. And He probably yawned a few times,and coughed. Perhaps he was also seen blinking a few dozen times. There were also probably 10 or more times where he didn't really like the flavor of the food he was served, but ate it graciously anyways.

Just because every movement/action wasn't recorded doesn't mean it didn't occur. Lighten up! Being too serious all the time gives you gas. Eeets true!

 

[Abiding]

I don't think we would be laugh-y creatures if that's not what God intended. Does anyone think humans invented laughter or humor? Come on now. Just because Jesus isn't recorded as having a good chuckle at something doesn't mean He didn't do it. It also doesn't mention His many trips to the restroom, but I am positive he did that too. And He probably yawned a few times,and coughed. Perhaps he was also seen blinking a few dozen times. There were also probably 10 or more times where he didn't really like the flavor of the food he was served, but ate it graciously anyways.

Just because every movement/action wasn't recorded doesn't mean it didn't occur. Lighten up! Being too serious all the time gives you gas. Eeets true!

Hey whos the guy? I wont mention he looks like he has gas.

 

[GreenNnice]

Jesus wept. This is written. He knows the heart of man, and needs no one to tell him how it is. As for Yeshua laughing, why would He?

As for good Christian comedians, are they found in churches?

Look above at the banner in the forum. Does fellowship mean having to have giggles? I do not think so. People may ridicule others all they want with the guise of humor and a wink, but it does not fool the Lord.

Humor should be done in Love, and, if not, well, then, it's not humor, is it.

I see what JJ is saying here, too. We are to be very careful in our laughter, there is laughter in Scripture, didn't David speak of laughter in his written psalms, and, solomon spoke well of laughter in Proverbs.

surely, there is more laughter in Scripture, things we can laught at, that are good, context of funniness, like Sarah and Abraham. What a funny thing that would be?

God tells Sara she is going to have a child when she was 90 years old and back then they only lived to the same as us, 120 years old maximum age, unless you are in the guiness book of world records and then you lived to 132 . I'm kidding, kidding, laugh

And, didn't Sara laugh?


WOW! What's that smell suddenly, it smells like it's coming from ABOVE me ????

Hey, Squirrel, whatcha doing up there
Well, God was not kidding, was He . God got the last laugh, didn't He

 

[Bridget_Left_China]

Oh Abiding, you know who he is... His name is Christopher, you know him as Dinodillinger... He has the right amount of laughter and seriousness in his life, so I think that makes the gas just dissapate!

 

[JaumeJ]

If you knew the Word you would know that Rachel what Rachel did was just wrong. Whenever the Children of Israel came upon the idols of the nations they were to destroy them, not keep them, even if they were of silver and gold. I have always thought she stole the for their material value which was wrong to do. As for how I treat idols, false gods, I do not even take their names on my lips, as is written.
I will not say your understanding is incorrect, since it is not elaborated upon in the Word, however this moment of Laban's searching for his lost idols was always quite dramatic in my esteem, not humorous at all.

I will not be following this OP because I have gone off on whether the jokes, cartoons and what not are viable in a serious discussion and fellowship of the Word. Relooking I see the OP is Jesus and His own humor, how He joked and cajoled with the masses.

Rachel gives a model to all of us how to treat idols--with chutzpah and lots of it!

chutzpah (noun, slang) - Nearly arrogant courage; utter audacity, effrontery or impudence; supreme self-confidence; exaggerated self-opinion;

Etymology - Originated 1890–95 from Yiddish חוצפּה (khutspe), from Mishnaic Hebrew חֻצְפָּה (khutspá), from חָצַף (khátsaf, “to be insolent”). Ultimately from Aramaic חוצפא (ḥuṣpāʾ), חֲצַף (ḥaṣap, “to be insolent”).

chutzpah - Wiktionary

Here's another joke, it's more subtle:

Jonah 4:11 "Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?"

 

[Brother_Don]

i'm not sure if Jesus laughed or not, we see that He wept. It looks like Jesus was cheerful, and had humor. Some of His parables, easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle, Jesus probably told more parables than we read about. here are a few verses of Jesus humanity. John 15:11, be joyful, Matthew 5:12 rejoice and be exceeding glad, Matthew 19:13-15 children loved Him, Matthew 14:19 children again, Children usually don't like being around stuffy people. Jesus would greet His disciples with REJOICE. Jesus wasn't a stiff necked person in my opinion.

 

[homwardbound]

Jesus certainly laughs as laughter comes from God in the first place as does a sense of humor.

Thanks Blain

Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

 

[homwardbound]

Which is worst? someone who takes joking to far? Or one who falls on his own sword and squeals about it?
A trip through 1 cor 13 may help this disorder.

Jokes with Malice of the flesh is too far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For God is Love without condemnation of not putting anyone down ever, a trip through 1 Cor. 13

 

[Ariel82]

I will not be following this OP because I have gone off on whether the jokes, cartoons and what not are viable in a serious discussion and fellowship of the Word. Relooking I see the OP is Jesus and His own humor, how He joked and cajoled with the masses.

Okay, if you don't want to follow the thread, that is your choice.

I could see why you went off on if humor had its place in a serious discussion. I did mention it as a lead in to my questions in the OP. However, as you know that discussion has already happen. People have expressed their positions for and against humor.

Now I would like to discuss what kinds of humor is acceptable, what the Joy of the Lord means to people and how did Jesus joke.

I didn't know he liked puns. almost makes you want to learn Aramaic so you can get the joke.

I guess there are different types of laughter mention in the Bible.

We can laugh because of the joy within us. Genesis 21:6 Psalm 126:2

Then there is mocking laughter Proverbs 1:26, "laugh to scorn"2 Kings 19:21, "laugh at and despise us"Nehemiah 2:19


God is said to be the author of both types of laughter: the kind that has people laughing WITH you and the kind where you or GOD laughs AT someone else (if they get their just punishment) or they laugh AT you (as they watch you suffer or being punished)

I understand why some people are against laughter.

we have these verses:

• Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.
  
  
• Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.
  
  Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
  
  Ecclesiastes 7:6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
  
  

• 
  
  However as Ecc says there is a time for everything:
  
  Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
  
  
  
  If you were in a middle of a serious conversation and a child walked up and told you a joke or offered you some food or drink that they had made, wouldn't you take the time to laugh and speak with them?
  
  Why take offense if no offense is meant?
  
  

makes you wonder who really is the wise man and who is the fool?

Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man, Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

 

[Grandpa]

Pride doesn't like laughter. Pride is serious. All the time.

Pride is funny though, and doesn't know it.

If a person wasn't overly prideful they could see the humour in the joke even if it was "against" them.


The Joy of the Lord is our Strength. And laughter is one of our biggest weapons we are given.

Spiritually, we are mostly blind and mostly deaf with very little understanding. And yet we still get prideful sometimes. Our situation is funny if you can stand back and see it. We are like little children pretending to be grown-ups. Or like brute beasts pretending to be people, sipping tea with our pinky out...

For someone who has crucified their flesh what do they care if someone laughs at the way their "paw" grips the tea cup? Or for that matter what does it matter if a blind, deaf, dummy laughs at your "theology"?

Mostly everything is funny if you look at it from the right angle. I know that the Lord has laughed at me a few times. I wasn't offended. I think that is the big thing.

 

[Sanashankar]

I was just wondering.

I know people get offended sometimes when in the middle of a serious debate someone will come in and start joking. I've read post of people complaining about it.

I always viewed it as a way to put things in perspective. to remind people to take a break from arguing their position to remember God's love and fellowship with other believers.

Does God have a sense of humor?

What does the JOy of the Lord mean to you?

Can you give Biblical examples of when Jesus has laughed or examples of His humanity?

I think this verse tells that God laughs at ignorance and foolishness of mortals

Ps 2:2-3 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Ps 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

This is just for fun. no disrespect to our Lord, but i see the sense of humor

1Sa 5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.
1Sa 5:6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
1Sa 5:9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

Its like God telling

God: "You Philistines want to be a pain in the rear-end to Israel, so I'll give you a pain in the rear-end."

And they didn't have Preparation H back then.

Of course, it was meant to teach and correct, but there is still that element of humor in it.

 

[Ariel82]

never thought about that story in that light Sanashankar, but it does seem as if the punishment truly fits that crime in that example.

 

[homwardbound]

I don't think we would be laugh-y creatures if that's not what God intended. Does anyone think humans invented laughter or humor? Come on now. Just because Jesus isn't recorded as having a good chuckle at something doesn't mean He didn't do it. It also doesn't mention His many trips to the restroom, but I am positive he did that too. And He probably yawned a few times,and coughed. Perhaps he was also seen blinking a few dozen times. There were also probably 10 or more times where he didn't really like the flavor of the food he was served, but ate it graciously anyways.

Just because every movement/action wasn't recorded doesn't mean it didn't occur. Lighten up! Being too serious all the time gives you gas. Eeets true!

You know there are no recordings of how Adam and Eve were before the fall as in cutting on each other, joking around until after the fall.
Yet Love rejoices in:
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. [SUP]5 [/SUP]It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. [SUP]6 [/SUP]Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [SUP]7 [/SUP]It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Verse 6 is where I see the laugh, joy, righteousness, with no joke.
I guess we as Humans need the Joke(s) to cover over the stress we face maybe? Or is it to make me look better than the other, when I feel lower that the other in front of others?
I guess a combination of both is what at least I see.
Good to laugh in a good way without offending others

 

[homwardbound]

i'm not sure if Jesus laughed or not, we see that He wept. It looks like Jesus was cheerful, and had humor. Some of His parables, easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle, Jesus probably told more parables than we read about. here are a few verses of Jesus humanity. John 15:11, be joyful, Matthew 5:12 rejoice and be exceeding glad, Matthew 19:13-15 children loved Him, Matthew 14:19 children again, Children usually don't like being around stuffy people. Jesus would greet His disciples with REJOICE. Jesus wasn't a stiff necked person in my opinion.

Christ is righteous and is because Christ did as Father asked, Christ listened and did all in Love for us all to receive this after the resurrection if we will agree to be dead to self at the cross as Paul saw, did and received, and many epistles tried to show us all this to be 100% dependent on Father through Son, being the only way to Father, through the Son. Now this would have to include the resurrection for new life here and now in the Spirit of Father you think?

 

[homwardbound]

Pride doesn't like laughter. Pride is serious. All the time.

Pride is funny though, and doesn't know it.

If a person wasn't overly prideful they could see the humour in the joke even if it was "against" them.


The Joy of the Lord is our Strength. And laughter is one of our biggest weapons we are given.

Spiritually, we are mostly blind and mostly deaf with very little understanding. And yet we still get prideful sometimes. Our situation is funny if you can stand back and see it. We are like little children pretending to be grown-ups. Or like brute beasts pretending to be people, sipping tea with our pinky out...

For someone who has crucified their flesh what do they care if someone laughs at the way their "paw" grips the tea cup? Or for that matter what does it matter if a blind, deaf, dummy laughs at your "theology"?

Mostly everything is funny if you look at it from the right angle. I know that the Lord has laughed at me a few times. I wasn't offended. I think that is the big thing.

Yes I see what you say and so if we see this:
Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

If one knows they are accepted and scripture state they are, then why would one need to be accepted or not? Flesh I think gets in the way, for while in God's Spirit which per God we are if we believe God, then there is no offense ever, being already accepted by God, it matters not if others accept you or not. Or does it?

 

[Elin]

I was just wondering.

I know people get offended sometimes when in the middle of a serious debate someone will come in and start joking. I've read post of people complaining about it.

I always viewed it as a way to put things in perspective. to remind people to take a break from arguing their position to remember God's love and fellowship with other believers.

Does God have a sense of humor?

What does the JOy of the Lord mean to you?

Can you give Biblical examples of when Jesus has laughed or examples of His humanity?

I'm thinking that if I were engaged in a three-year running battle with those who wanted to kill me,

and knew that I was on a journey to torture, execution and three hours of agony on a cross,

including feeling forsaken by God, before I gave up my spirit to God,

that I would not be inclined to levity of any sort.

 

[Praus]

I'm thinking that if I were engaged in a three-year running battle with those who wanted to kill me,

and knew that I was on a journey to torture, execution and three hours of agony on a cross,

including feeling forsaken by God, before I gave up my spirit to God,

that I would not be inclined to levity of any sort.

pun - Wiktionary

pun (plural puns): Noun
A joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused.

Matt 4:18 ¶ And Iesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the Sea (for they were fishers) 19 And he saith vnto them, Follow mee: and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 1:16 Now as he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the Sea (for they were fishers.) 17 And Iesus said vnto them, Come ye after me; and I will make you to become fishers of men.

ΚΑΤΑ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ 16:18 καγω δε σοι λεγω οτι συ ει πετρος και επι ταυτη τη πετρα οικοδομησω μου την εκκλησιαν και πυλαι αδου ου κατισχυσουσιν αυτης (TR1894)