Laugh Like the Lord!
We all have that one friend. You know the one–something funny happens in the room and they burst out laughing with the type of laughter that comes from deep within their soul. Laughter which is only found in the deepest regions of a persons heart and fills everyone else’s being as it permeates the room. In turn, causing the entire room to erupt in a volcanic explosion of joyful noise and a few snorts.
Laughter is a gift to our heart and soul from God. It is a daily need. Just as much as bread and water. Joyfulness is created through such a basic and honest reaction from our hearts. True laughter is born from within the depths of our souls, not our minds. It comes from a place only God can touch. Most would agree that laughter is a gift and a truth of God, that “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17 NIV). Therefore, confirming its glorious gifting.
Most people have a distinctive laugh. If I am in the other room, while my son and his friends are playing ping pong, it is obvious which teenager is laughing because of their unique sound. During a time of meditating on kindness, love and laughter, I wondered what Jesus’ laugh sounded like. At first I thought maybe it wasn’t right to even consider the possibility of Jesus laughing. Scripture shares so much of Jesus’ times of teaching, with very little mention of “fun” or humorous social interactions.
Christ was not only God, He was a man (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:6-7; John 1:14; Colossians 1:15). His earthly form allowed Him to experience the same emotions we do, sadness and joy. God the Father gave laughter to Abraham and Sarah, through the birth of their son Isaac, which in Hebrew means “to laugh” (Genesis 21:3, 6). My question was then answered, Christ had to have laughed.
As many of us might go next, I wondered what did His laugh sound like? Was it higher pitched or deep in tone? Was it a lengthy kind of laugh, like Santa, or was it a quick, yet fun laugh? What would make Christ laugh? As a sinful human, I have to confess, I would have laughed at Peter when he started sinking while trying to walk on water (Matthew 14:22-33). The event was a true and serious lesson in faith and definitely revealed Christ’s divinity, but you have to wonder if later on while they all sat by a fire, did they breakout in laughter at what Peter looked like, falling into the water.
We’ve all been through a serious situation and later found some laughter in it. When Jesus made breakfast for His disciples (John 21:12), was it all “business” talk? They spent three years together in all different situations, they had to have shared stories of growing up and humorous times in life together.
Exploring the idea of Christ laughing and enjoying life with his family and friends, makes Him real in our life. Certainly we must have the reverence of who Christ is today and in scripture, but to realize He was like us in the aspect of feelings, brings a closeness which we sometimes deny ourselves.
As we travel this road of life, it is God’s hope and His purpose for having sent His Son, for us to grow closer to Him each day. When we open the gift of laughter, may we be drawn closer to God because of this gift, but also because of the idea that we are experiencing a similar, real life emotion which our Savior enjoyed while on this earth.
May we all learn to laugh like the Lord.
