Did Jesus Ever Tell a Joke?

[templar]

The Bible is pretty specific about Jesus's personality. We know that He cried (at the tomb of Lazarus), and we know from His interactions with people that He was compassionate, intelligent, and devoted. But there are plenty of things the Bible is silent about when it comes to the person of Christ. Personally, I'm not nearly as interested in what He looked like or if He was married and had children as much as I am this:

What made Jesus laugh?

The Bible never says. Maybe that's not really important theologically, but it's a question I've always asked myself. Surely He had a sense of humor. But what would He find funny?

Any thoughts?

[Lookin^Up]

How about this one?

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Thinking of a plank sticking out of someone's eye, trying to see a speck, surely brought laughter from the audience. We become so used to the passage that we miss the spontaneous humor it must've conveyed to His original listeners.

Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.
Now that's a funny picture, even though at the same time it was scathing to the Pharisees He was calling "blind guides". Basically Jesus was making fun of them.

Indeed, 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.

Far too many preachers miss this joke as they try to say this is a narrow gate in Jerusalem. I believe He literally meant a sewing needle, a funny exaggeration meant to bring the laughs and yet make His point.

Conclusion: Jesus may not have told anecdotal jokes as we usually think of them, but as I've just demonstrated above, He did say funny things. I'm sure you can find others. I've always believed that God has a sense of humor (otherwise He could not put up with our foolishness), and so did Jesus. The Campus Crusade "Jesus" film shows Him laughing and playing near a brook with the disciples, far from the somber image we often see.

[WritingChaos]

These days most jokes revolve around the "f" word or something of the like. If not that, they revolve around the suffering of the teller or others. Perhaps you hit the hammer on the head with that one Lookin^Up.

[lynnmosher]

Every Easter, our church has an extremely well-produced Passion play, rivaling any Broadway production. Tens of thousands of people come from all over to see it every year. My very favorite part is not Jesus' healings, not His miracles, and not His teachings. It is the part where they portray Jesus at the Jewish celebrations, dancing and laughing. There are a few other scenes where He laughs, such as the healed little girl who runs to Him and jumps into His arms. Seeing Jesus laugh and smile, enjoying Himself, brings tears to my eyes. Just to know that He savored some portion of human life as opposed to the suffering He endured always makes me cry. Like right now!

[The Traveler]

I think JESUS laughs when HE views some of the creatures he has made. I like the deep ocean ones myself. Plus HE loved children, who always make you laugh.

[Phy]

These days most jokes revolve around the "f" word or something of the like.

We must be listening to different comedians.

[jacks girl]

Hey God made me and I'm kind of funny so he must have a sense of humor. I too think at times when he said to them You Generation of Vipers he had to be thinking how silly these people are.

[kshsj777]

Well we have a sense of humor, and humor isn't sinful, so it makes sense that God would have a sense of humor.

Psalm 2:4

"He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them."

[Lookin^Up]

Yes, Jacks and 777, you were created in God's image, after all. If we in God's image have a sense of humor, it's perfectly logical to think God does.

[Alice]

Jesus, as a human, probably experienced humor. People loved hanging out with him, too, so yeah, probably. :) Oh, and he loved little kids, right? Kids often laugh and love to be around people with a sense of humor.

But remember the Bible says Jesus was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." I'm sure it wasn't all a laugh riot.

[WritingChaos]

Phy,
I watch comedy control’s stand up shows. I’ve only heard two good Christian comedians. One was online and the other was in real person. Jeff Foxworthy is pretty clean word wise. Also, even movies labeled as comedies are often revolved around sex.

Do you watch comedic movies?

[waiter]

I have no doubts about Jesus laughing or having a sense of humor. Can you imagine this man exemplifying what it is to be truly human and not having that? The Holy Spirit makes whole people and one of the wonderful things once the load starts being lifted off our shoulders because of sin is that we can laugh and we can laugh easily. Jesus had about the most serious mission one could have but I have no doubt he was able to have a good laugh.

[Hisart]

They Joy of the lord is my strength.

I read an excellent book that pointed out the fact that people by nature point out things in people that don't normally occur. Susie is crying, why is she crying. -or- Bob is smiling? Why is he smiling? -or- Jesus wept.

The point was that Jesus was so full of Joy and laughter that children ran to Him.

Did He tell jokes? Only if they didn't hurt anyone or break one of the commandments.