When God Laughs

Is it just in my quirky mind or do you ever picture Jesus laughing?  When we laugh, and smile and are filled with joy, do you ever picture Jesus joining in with us?

It might be easier for us to invite Jesus into our moments of distress, fear, and sadness, but what about inviting him into our silly moments?  Do you think it brings him joy to watch his children laughing?

I would like to think the answer is Yes to all of the above.

In fact, I believe that Jesus represents the very essence of joy.

But I tend to get a little caught up picturing Jesus as serious. Perhaps it’s the stories I read about him and his time on this earth.  He was all about the business of spreading the gospel message–and rightly so.  Did he have time to laugh?  Perhaps, it’s the fact that he was without sin that trips me up.  But really now, that doesn’t mean he didn’t laugh or enjoy some joking around with his 12 buddies.

You know the times when you experience a good belly laugh?  You couldn’t stop laughing if you tried.  But if someone asked you what was so funny, you couldn’t do the story justice to even get a chuckle out of them?  Perhaps that’s how it was for the writers of the four gospels.  I’m certain they had some great moments laughing with Jesus, but to even be able to communicate that in writing, well, maybe they knew we wouldn’t get it.

There are too many passages in the Bible that speak about joy to even list, but here are a few that speak to Jesus’s joy, and the joy that is available to us as followers:

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” Luke 10:21

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Romans 15:13

As I write this, my girls are laughing hysterically about something.  I can hear them through the air vents from where I sit in the basement.  I don’t know what could be so funny, because a few minutes ago we were inviting Jesus into some serious prayer for a sweet girl we know who has cancer.  But the picture in my head shows that Jesus is sitting beside them on the floor; watching, laughing, and just enjoying this moment with them.  Just as he sat a few minutes ago with his arms around all of us as we cried out to him to heal our friend.

So, yes, I believe Jesus does laugh.  I believe Heaven is full of it.  And I can’t wait for his return so I can laugh with him–all the time.