And Jesus Laughed

Meditations for Ragamuffins

March 15, 2024

And Jesus Laughed

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

John 15:11

Many Christians have a hard time picturing Jesus laughing. I don’t. When Peter and the other disciples reminisced together about their days with Jesus, I believe their most common image of Jesus was of him smiling and laughing. Certainly, Jesus was serious when he needed to be, and he did weep over Jerusalem and his friend, Lazarus. But when you picture in your mind the children running after him and being pulled up onto his lap, can’t you see a big smile on his face?

Jesus employed much humor in his parables and other teachings. Not so much the one-liners late-night comedians like to use, but using hyperbole, and at times he even had a sarcastic wit. Isaiah tells us that Jesus “was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3a). Yes, this is true, but Jesus was also happy, and he enjoyed parties and festivals with his friends. Life has plenty of pitfalls, but Jesus’ mission contrasted sharply with the ways of the world: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

We are only 2 ½ months into this New Year, and we still have time to fine-tune our priorities and our approach to seeking the life in Christ in 2024. I encourage you to spend time in quiet meditation and imagine you are looking into a mirror, and the image you see looking back at you is Jesus. Hold that thought until you see Jesus smiling lovingly at you.

My Takeaway: One of my favorite benedictions or blessing that I pronounce on myself, is to “rest in God’s smile of affection for you.” Will you take this blessing for yourself?   

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.