Though the answer wouldn’t be obvious to unbelievers or even to most Christians, the Bible is clear on this: it’s Jesus. Psalm 45:6-7 is quoted in direct reference to the Messiah, in Hebrews 1:8-9, where the Father says of His Son: “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” Most scholars think “companions,” in context, is the whole human race that Jesus became part of in His incarnation.
Notice the connection between Christ’s righteousness and His gladness, whereas in Scripture wickedness brings misery. Ironically, we often think of ourselves as fun-loving, and of God as a humorless killjoy. But we’ve got it backward. We are the dull ones, not God. Did we invent wit, humor, and laughter? No. God did. We’ll never begin to exhaust God’s sense of humor and His love for pleasure-filled joy. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
For Nanci and me, as much now as ever as she’s battling cancer, laughter is pure therapy. We were with six dear friends recently, and we ate and drank and laughed and told stories till late. I’m still smiling at the evening we enjoyed together.
We love to laugh, and there’s a lot of it with family and friends. As long as our laughter isn’t impure or demeaning, I think Christ laughs with us. On the New Earth, after the resurrection, the wit and fun-loving nature of our Lord will be our greatest source of endless laughter. I am convinced no one’s laughter will be louder and more contagious than that of Jesus.
Growing up in a faithful Jewish family, Jesus would have enjoyed many feasts and holidays, as well as the weekly Sabbath, all celebratory experiences (see chapter 33 of my book Happiness). One of the psalms that Jesus would have meditated on from His childhood says, “When the Lord brought us back to Jerusalem it was like a dream! How we laughed, how we sang for joy! . . . Indeed He did great things for us; how happy we were!”(Psalm 126:1-3, GNT).
“Be happy and shout to God who makes us strong!” (Psalm 81:1, CEV). A. W. Tozer said, “The people of God ought to be the happiest people in all the wide world!”
So thank God for laughter, and realize as long as it’s not celebrating impurity or other sin, Jesus joins in your laughter. If that’s clear in our minds, then it will counteract the stereotype of unhappy Christians, and people around us will see that the Gospel of Jesus is truly “the good news of happiness” (Isaiah 52:7, ESV).
“God will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting” (Job 8:21).
Jesus said, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh” (Luke 6:21).
“Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into your Master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:23).
Photo by Ankush Minda on Unsplash
