This morning as I opened my Bible to read, I turned back to the section I was last reading, from Luke’s Gospel. I was reminded of a funny experience I had with the Lord in prayer yesterday morning, and as I thought about it I felt the Lord indicate that this is significant.
In short, the Holy Spirit cracked a joke.
It actually was quite the funny joke (at least to me), and it took me a bit by surprise. As I was reflecting on that experience yesterday I was reminded of another thought I have had where the Holy Spirit plays a bit of a joke on Jesus (at least that is my interpretation).
So, here is the scripture and the joke, and please remember this is a joke, and not my opinion, nor anything other than a JOKE. I was reading the following verses - Luke 9:1-6 NIV:
[1] When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, [2] and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. [3] He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.”
And then I thought I heard Holy Spirit add - “and that’s why there weren’t any women apostles, because only men would be ok with a command like that!”
I had to laugh…
I had never had the Lord tell me a joke before… I certainly wasn't thinking about jokes or anything like that at the time…
So the question is why would the Lord tell a joke?
First, I think it is important to know that Holy Spirit, especially, is a person and has a personality. I have heard Graham Cooke say that Holy Spirit is hilarious, and I so appreciate humor in people, that this encouraged me. If the Lord created everything, and we are made in His image, then a sense of humor is something that comes from Him and that He intentionally gave to us.
Second, We need to understand that He enjoys us, delights in us, and experiences joy! Sometimes in our religion we expect God to be all serious, all the time, and we forget that there are multiple times Jesus, as the Father's perfect representation (Heb 1:3) expressed overt joy, so much so that the Gospel writers remembered those occasions years later when they wrote the accounts. I am reminded of the following verses from Luke 10:21 NIV:
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”
Finally, what family doesn’t have one who is the jokester? Usually the second child…
I mean Jesus was the perfectly obedient son, which means Holy Spirit is… (just kidding).
The point of all this morning is that the Lord invites us to know Him. He wants us to know Him intimately, and a sense of humor is included in that (in my opinion). I think our lives in Him should be filled with joy, and laughter, for where His Spirit is, there is freedom, and freedom releases joy!
This morning I am encouraged to press further into relationship with the Lord, because He really must be the funniest person ever! And the most loving, compassionate, merciful, forgiving, gracious and kind person ever, too!
Lord help me to experience more of Your humor and joy!
Amen!
Picture above from https://www.chuckgirard.com/religious-jokes.html
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