Was Jesus Funny?

I don’t see how anyone can doubt that Jesus was sometimes extremely funny. He was, after all, fully human. People are funny. So I think it’s safe to say that at least every once in a while Jesus was a veritable crack-up. Especially given that his whole ministry involved communicating with people—which, of course, necessarily involved employing at least some humor.

It’s true there’s not a lot of major yuks in the New Testament. Not that I can see, anyway. I don’t speak or read ancient Greek or Hebrew, though, so maybe it’s there in the original. I sure don’t speak Biblical Aramaic; I found it astounding that Mel Gibson was able to locate so many actors who do for his movie “The Passion.” I don’t know how Mel did it, but I’m guessing there are a lot of great, very old community theaters in … Aramaia.

Anyway, I know (boy, do I know) that a lot of Christians just aren’t comfortable with the idea that Jesus was ever funny. I don’t know why a funny Jesus would make anyone uncomfortable, but there it is. People who don’t think Jesus was funny must assume that the proclivity for humor was a core human characteristic that, for some reason, the Lord simply chose not to adopt for himself.

Of course, the whole “plank in your eye” metaphor does seem pretty funny. So, again, one never knows.

I think the best thing to do, after we’ve died and come directly into his presence, is to wait and see whether or not Jesus cracks a joke first.

Frankly, I hope he does. Because if he doesn’t, chances are that before too very long I will crack a joke. And when I do, I really, really want Jesus to laugh at it.

Can you imagine cracking a joke to Jesus, and having him respond with, “What was that? Was that funny? Was that your idea of funny? Who told you that sort of thing was funny? Hold on a minute here; lemme check my clipboard. Are you sure you’re supposed to be on this ‘up’ elevator?”

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