biblehumor

Did Jesus laugh? Did Jesus use humor? We think He did! The Gospels do not really mention Him smiling or laughing, but we need to remember that only thirty-five days out of his entire thirty-three years of life are recorded.

According to author Leslie Flynn, Jesus preferred a relaxed atmosphere, like in the story about Mary, Martha and their brother, Lazarus. He points out that Jesus used humor to teach as well as to relieve embarrassment. For example, He changed water to wine when the hosts ran out of refreshments for the guests at a wedding.

Jesus also gave funny nicknames to his disciples. He called Peter “The Rock” although at the time he was anything but stable. He also gave James and John the nicknames “Sons of Thunder” because of their feisty character.
He also used funny examples to teach lessons. Suppose you walk down the street and see a man with a big beam coming out of his eye. Then you see another man who has a little speck in his eye. The man with the beam starts to criticize the man with the little speck and tries to get it out. Isn't that funny? Jesus was giving a lesson about hypocrisy using vivid humorous imagery.

Don't forget about the parable of "The Woman and the Lamp.” She bought a new lamp and hid it under the bed instead of using it. How funny is that? Jesus was teaching that Christians should witness to the people around them.
Now imagine a sparrow operating a plow! Here, Jesus was teaching the people not to worry: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

When Jesus appeared to the disciples in Emmaus after his resurrection, the situation was humorous. Can you imagine carrying on about a person who is present the way they did? He walked miles with them before He telling them who He was.
Try to picture a camel with its hump going through the eye of a needle. Jesus said
“… it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." He was teaching about the foolishness of rejecting God and focusing on earthly things.