She got sick at suppertime, and she was dead by morning. Jesus never did anythingthat was wrong. But those untaught unbelievers “laughed him to scorn,” for making that statement. “People who do not know how to laugh, are always pompous and self-conceited.”, “I am sure that since I had the use of my reason, no human being has ever heard me laugh.”, “The man who cannot laugh is not only fit for treasons, strategems, and spoils, but his whole life is already a treason and strategem.”, “Immoderate laughter always ends in a sigh.”, “That laughter costs too much which is purchased by the sacrifice of decency.” “God made both tears and laughter, and both for kind purposes: for as laughter enable mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sorrow to vent itself patiently. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Those Pharisees, entrenched in their sin, heard the authoritative declaration of the Son of God, and they laughed Him to scorn, because what He said attacked the very core of their lives. “And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. The Story of the Laughing Jesus by Rev. Dear friends in Christ, grace, mercy and peace, from God our Father, and His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine his doing that without letting out a good belly laugh at some point. Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. Psychologists often tell us that “hurting people hurt people” and perhaps these hurting people were just lashing out. ), Jesus came eating and drinking and, I think, laughing. She entered through the back door and walked down to Fellowship Hall and drank coffee and ate donut holes with her church friends. Amen. Great Collectors Item. “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. And some are even found in the New Testament, even coming from the lips of the Saviour Himself. Essentially – your physical death may be followed by the second death. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Did that provoke them to come to Jairus’ house to learn more about Christ and His miracle? Amen. Repent of your scorn before it is eternally too late. Without the sacrificing of Jesus’ life there would never be any eternal life for any of us. Please come and lay your hands on her.” Can you hear the urgency in his voice? I found the mom in her daughter’s closet, lying on the floor, clutching and smelling her daughter’s pajamas. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”. I wish there had been an investigative reporter who could have followed those scorners around for a few days. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Jesus spoke of rejoicing in His parables in Luke 15—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son were all found. In each of the three miracles of this 5th chapter of Mark, faith preceded the miracle. There is a group in Portage, Michigan called “The Fellowship of Merry Christians.” It was begun in 1985, for the single purpose of reminding Christians to be joyful. Did they begin to attend Jairus’ synagogue with more sincerity, honesty and faith, worshiping the God who can raise the dead? Proverbs 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; his day. One of the sources that helped me discover the humor of Jesus is a little book by Elton Trueblood called The Humor of Christ. If you are carrying some enormous weight on your shoulders today for something you did or didn’t do years ago, you need to know that God has already cleared your name. Why did they laugh at Jesus? From Pharisees to sinners, Jesus loved to belly-up to the table and break bread. They followed him, were amazed at his teaching, saw him perform miracle after miracle, but . Jairus requested Jesus to come to his house and lay his hands on his daughter. For the last two weeks I was in a ‘clueless vacuum” on what I was going to do about giving my first sermon as a lay speaker. Do you remember that book of quotations with which I began this morning? One day, when God Kingdom prevails, when all the Saints are gathered in God’s presence, we will laugh with Jesus. But sooner or later, when people of faith realize that there is no place else to turn, we are likely to turn to God. It begins with Jesus curing a demon-possessed man. I crawled in there with her and listened to her cry for an hour. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” Basically these are the words of Christ on the cross. There aren’t many, but there are a few scriptures which prepare us to expect the mockery which the wicked tried to lay upon our Saviour. When they later saw that girl out in the streets, more healthy than she had ever been before, did they confess their earlier sin of unbelief? One of our responses is to turn to our faith. There is a group in Portage, Michigan called “The Fellowship of Merry Christians.”. In those cases, God always gets the last laugh. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Unless you are born again between now and when your heart stops beating, sometime after your physical death you will be cast into “the lake of fire,” which the Bible calls “the second death.” Spiritual death is followed by eternal death – guaranteed by the holiness and authority of God. Jesus allowed people to fix him toa cross because he loves everyone so much. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. It was not usual for the whole country tobecome dark at midday. laugh. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. And sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And there is one more response, one more thing we can do to survive the difficult chapters of our lives. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.” “Derided” is a different Greek word, but the meaning is the same – “they laughed Him to scorn.” And for what? Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. We all should know how foolish and weak we are, and we need to be able to admit it. A second case of laughing at Christ involved His AUTHORITY. Those people who were laughing at Christ misunderstood the Biblical doctrine of DEATH. For attacking one of the foundational principles of their evil society – “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” “Mammon” is an Aramaic word which speaks of “treasure,” “wealth” or “money.”. There's no record of Jesus laughing in the gospels just like there's no record of Jesus ever giving anyone a hug. they laughed at him (v.53). Some would judge Karen; criticize her for her grief. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”, There aren’t many, but there are a few scriptures which prepare us to expect the mockery which the wicked tried to lay upon our Saviour. Isaiah 53, the great chapter prophesying the sacrificial death of Christ hints at the laughter of the wicked. You think Jairus didn’t feel responsible for the apparent death of his daughter. It seems to me that one of the marks of maturity is the ability to laugh at oneself. But they turned to the one whom they thought was their enemy and they trusted him. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! Laughing at Jesus (click on the title above to listen to the sermon) The woman knew she could not simply walk through the crowd of people to speak to Jesus. Compassionate on his feelings, praying, listening, healing, teaching. A laughing Jesus likely found pleasure and enjoyment in life - he wasn't a one issue ideologue. When the Bible speaks about the Trinity, just because they may not be able to explain it, or even to understand it, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a fact, and they should take by faith what the scripture says. And that brings us to the laughter which wicked men threw at to our Saviour AT HIS CRUCIFIXION. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. When we are Jairus; when the events in our lives are beyond our ability to cope, we too, laugh, or we snicker, or we lash out, because we don’t know what else to do. I couldn’t believe my email this morning. It’s not about your brains; it’s about your heart. Then he said, “The man who cannot laugh is not only fit for treasons, strategems, and spoils, but his whole life is already a treason and strategem.” On the other hand, someone once wrote: “Immoderate laughter always ends in a sigh.” “That laughter costs too much which is purchased by the sacrifice of decency.” “God made both tears and laughter, and both for kind purposes: for as laughter enable mirth and surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sorrow to vent itself patiently. This is undoubtedly even more dangerous than mocking His knowledge or His Word. But then two days later, you are out driving and you are texting once again, but a policeman sees you. But strangely, she came to coffee fellowship between services. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. It has been confirmed. Some laughed at the thought that He was a king. Come by faith to the altar where Christ Jesus sacrificed Himself for your salvation. If you are prone to reject what the Bible says about “sin, righteousness and judgment…” If you want to reject what God says about your lost, wicked condition and that you will spend eternity in the Lake of fire… If you want to dismiss what the Bible about the importance of the Lord’s church, prayer, righteous living, or any of a thousand other things… You may say that your derision is based on logic, but the truth is, you will not bow before the authority of the omnipotent God. Without the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary in precisely this way, no sinner could ever be delivered from the penalties that his sins deserve. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. We see Jesus as transparent in the humility of his heart. Despair can even move us to harm ourselves because we see no hope in the future. “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. And it’s okay to be free of guilt. Until then, we have each other…and the promises of God. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear? Even when we are responsible, when we have failed or brought suffering upon ourselves, there comes a time when we must let it go. Later I have a chance to talk to you, and I say, – “You should not try to serve God and mammon.”, “The Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.”, Once again, let’s apply this to everything else which Christ Jesus has said. Laughing At Jesus. But the equally great Messianic Psalm 22 is a bit clearer on the subject. It would be basically impossible for him to be joyful but not smile or laugh. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars (an scorners), shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”. .” Stage directions for reading this would perhaps indicate that the laughter here is the laughter of relief, not laughter at a person, but laughter with a person—in this case, laughter among the members of the Trinity. The LORD shall laugh at him: for he sees that his day is coming. But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have ALL the heathen in derision.”, I’ll close this morning with Psalm 2 – you may turn there if you’d like to follow. I could argue that God will not bless such service, making it impossible to do either one properly. Instead their unbelief caused them to laugh at Jesus. Jesus used one form of humor we call sarcasm. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.”. There is a difference between my council and the authority of the law. So when he announced that the little girl was not dead but merely sleeping, why did they laugh at him? There are several additional scriptures where wicked souls mocked and derided Christ, and I would like to put them into several categories for you. Isaiah 53 – “He (was) despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. You have the words of eternal life.”, A SUBSCRIBER SAYS: “Hello Dick. I couldn’t find the quotation, “He who laughs last, laughs best,” somebody must have said it, but I don’t know who it was. If you have not been born again, regenerated by the grace of God, then you are spiritually dead – dead in your trespasses and sins – your eternal spirit has no life before the holy God, and is separated from Him. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Did they begin to attend Jairus’ synagogue with more sincerity, honesty and faith, worshiping the God who can raise the dead? And since Jesus knew that He was going to reunite her soul with her body, there was a sense in which her BODY was only sleeping, awaiting her resurrection. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. But I think he laughed a lot and I think he hugged people a lot because he was a lover and he was full of joy. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. She went to doctors, but they only made things worse, so she too, reaches out – literally – to become healed by Jesus. This was my theme last Sunday night, but many of you were not here, so let me give you a brief outline. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. And some are even found in the New Testament, even coming from the lips of the Saviour Himself. But we don't often think about Jesus laughing do we? “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? You think my friend Karen didn’t beat herself up for not taking her daughter to the E.R. Or was it a quiet, cynical snicker, by those who simply couldn’t take Jesus seriously? Our scripture raises a point which I’ve never pursued before, but which I think deserves consideration. I hope that you know that when Christ was taken from Gethsemane, He was first brought to the High Priest. Now please turn to Matthew 27:27-43 – “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. “The Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.” It wasn’t Christ’s logic to which they disagreed, it was His authority. And since Jesus knew that He was going to reunite her soul with her body, there was a sense in which, Permit me expand the words of Christ, to all the Word of God. I look forward to seeing Jesus, laughing with all his children. But in the midst of the storm, people have said that if feels that way; like God is causing the pain…that God in inflicting the punishment. 48 Jesus said to her, "My daughter, you are made well because you believed. Hymn Lists. And they laughed him to scorn. It’s purely speculative whether or not Jesus laughed, but I can’t imagine that he didn’t laugh for this reason: He was fully human, and he was perfect. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. This post was (loosely) based off of the Grace Commentary on Luke 5:33-39. Some of them mocked Christ for, and in, the midst of His humility. But then Jairus receives the horrible news; “Don’t bother Jesus anymore, your daughter has died.” “She’s not dead” says Jesus, “let’s keep going.” They get to the house and Jesus announces that the little girl isn’t dead, she is merely sleeping. They had endured the religious rules and rituals for years, but now it all seems so hollow, now that a little girl had died. And when they laugh at what the Bible says about, I wish there had been an investigative reporter who could have followed those scorners around for a few days. It might sound "unloving" to say God laughs at the wicked. Children’s Sermons Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. And they cannot make it right again. It’s a failure to take God at His Word. Good Morning, My text this morning is Mark 5:21-43. Permit me expand the words of Christ, to all the Word of God. I define death as some sort of separation – for example, soul from body or the spirit from God. She was angry at God and couldn’t bear to praise him in worship. Now, I have said many times, that I believe that Christ Jesus had a sense of humor. Is it true as Carlyle said, “Laughter means sympathy?” Sometimes. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. They had lost hope for healing already. Go in peace." We can learn to forgive ourselves. Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair and madness.” He who cannot laugh at himself, is a proud and dangerous man. There comes a time when we must forgive ourselves for being human. So they laughed; they snickered and scoffed at this one who didn’t know death when he saw it. Laughing Jesus | it is a pencil drawn image of the laughing jesus Homily From the 5th Sunday in Lent, Year A As I was reflecting on the Gospel for today, I thought of two images of Christ. Check out these helpful resources It is eternally dangerous to deride or to laugh to scorn the eternal Son of God. Despite its two thousand of pages that book isn’t complete. From there Jesus was given to a Centurion with orders to crucify Him. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. I have several books in my library with collections of quotations. But laugh I’m sure… There was a quotation that I was seeking, in order that I could give you its source, but it wasn’t there. But in the fact that human beings are eternal souls, there was a part of her which was not physically dead. According to Hebrews 1 - Jesus was the happiest guy who ever lived, happier than anyone else and happier than any of his friends. The Lord God is going to have the last laugh in this sinful world, and it will not be a pleasant little giggle. The Hebrews verse is a quote from the Psalms that is interpreted as applying to Jesus personally. They like to spread quips like “The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves so lightly.” And “The devil fell because of the gravity of his situation.” They organize “Holy Humor Sunday” each April, where people are encouraged to dress with humor, and tell jokes in worship. Let’s say that I saw you driving down the road one day with your cell phone at the top of the steering wheel and your thumbs skipping across its keyboard. OK, my joke didn’t fly. We are family, and if you suffer, you have fellow sufferers on the journey with you. But then Ruffini added, “More people laugh at us than with us, however it may appear at the moment.”. Oddly, Christian people have seemingly mastered the art of forgiving others, yet we have great difficulty forgiving ourselves…even for things that are not our fault. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.” May I add that he who mocks the Son mocks God the Father which hath sent him? All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan. Did that provoke them to come to Jairus’ house to learn more about Christ and His miracle? But he also has the law behind him, and you could be looking at a serious fine for breaking the law. Was it nervous laughter; the way we sometimes do when our emotions are running high, and we don’t know what to say? Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Put aside your mockery of spiritual things, and of the revelation of God. Luke 23:8-11 – “And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. GET YOUR FOUR FREE SAMPLES! Matthew 9:23-25 – “And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. Twenty one years ago, I was on a youth trip in New York State when I received a call from Marsha. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. And these people love to laugh with Jesus. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. The demon possessed man bowed before Jesus. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.”, “Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. So she tried to sneak up behind him and just touch the hem of his garment. Was it nervous laughter; the way we sometimes do when our emotions are running hi The Lord God is going to have the last laugh in this sinful world, and it will not be a pleasant little giggle. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. Philippians 2:9-11 is a powerful segment of a large and important scripture. When people break God's rules they moveaway from God. Or I could rephrase it – “You should not try to serve God and mammon.” But all my sputterings would not even come close to the authority with which Jesus said the same thing. Biblical Commentary But did Jesus laugh? I missed the death, I missed the funeral. sermon, keyed on the Gospel of Luke 16:13 by the editors of Sunday Sermons preaching resources -- serving the preaching community since 1970. I would like us to consider the obvious this morning – It is foolish to mock, to sneer and to disdain Christ Jesus. But as I wish that we all knew, myself included, there are many times when laughter is out of place. Verse 6 – “I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. . Karen never came back to church. They laughed at Jesus. I cannot speak to the spiritual condition of the girl in our scripture, but she was physically dead. at suppertime? Without the blood of the Lamb of God there could never be any remission – of sin. First when they were pressed on all sides by a crowd and Jesus said, “Who touched me?” (Luke 8:45), and then again when Jesus told Jairus and his family: She is not dead but asleep (v.52). Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And “He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. The story of Jairus’ daughter becomes a laboratory for us to see ourselves. And they laughed him to scorn.” The account of the raising of Jairus’ daughter is recorded in all three of the Synoptic Gospels. Deb Minnard “Jesus Face Licked” by Award Winning Artist, Will Bring a Smile of Joy to You and Your … And the Greek word translated “laughed Him to scorn” is used in all three cases, and it is used no where else in the scriptures. Jesus encouraged joyful laughter, most famously in the Beatitudes, recorded in Matthew 5 and Luke 6. Please accept my most heartfelt thanks for providing me with this material.”. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.”. God does not laugh when most people suffer. To minimize, or ignore, or laugh at the crucifixion is eternal folly. And they laughed him to scorn. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. How do we cope when life overwhelms us? Lord Chesterfield is quoted to have said, “I am sure that since I had the use of my reason, no human being has ever heard me laugh.” Pity that poor man’s wife. I’ve seen that a lot. He was ready to die for otherpeople. Choose your favorite laughing jesus designs and purchase them as wall art, … But there was a reason for His meekness and willingness to suffer at their hands. Hundreds of people pressing in on him, and yet he feels her touch.