Pastor Tom Johnson, November 6, 2022
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Jesus promises laughter to be part of God’s reign in our lives. Godly laughter is a guaranteed consequence to the good news of Christ’s Kingdom crashing into our world. Laughter is an involuntary response of the body. Giggling and roaring laughter are wordless but audible celebration. We cannot really decide when we are going to laugh. Something may tickle our funny bone. It may be the relief after a close call with lethal danger. Laughter can come when we clearly see how foolish we humans can be. It can come when we release the stress of confronting truth that makes us feel uncomfortable. It can result from the discovery of irony—two things that you would not expect to come together—a juxtaposition of incongruities.
But in this same sermon Jesus says there is a laughter that should be turned into mourning and weeping—laughter that needs to stop. This may be the laughter that comes as the expense of others—laughter that mocks others—celebrates another’s demise or destruction. Jesus wants us to cultivate a godly sense of humor.
You’ll remember that Sarah laughed at God’s promise that they will have a child in their old age. This may have been the laughter of unbelief. Or it may have have been laughter at what she believed was too good to be true. When their son is born, their home was filled with laughter and joy over their son whom God names Isaac—which means “laughter.” This is to remind them and us that it is God’s joy to fulfill his promises. And that God gets the last laugh.
You’ll remember when Jesus tells those who are mourning the death of a girl that she is only asleep. They laugh in unbelief and Jesus’ apparent cluelessness to the reality of death. Jesus silences their laughter by raising her from the dead and brings a godly laughter in it’s place—in celebration of life restored.
It is an harmful laughter when we make fun of others—when we ridicule—when we enjoy seeing others fail or harmed. This kind laughter is a poison inside of us. It spills out for others to see and hear our callousness and cruelty of heart. This is the laughter that Jesus wants to transform into a godly sorrow—sadness over living in a sinful world—and compassion for those who suffer—even those who the consequences of their own bad choices.
The preacher in Ecclesiastes says there is a time to weep and there is a time to laugh (3:4). There is a time to mourn our losses; there is a time to be grateful for what we have been blessed with. There is a time to feel godly sorrow for our sins; there is a time to celebrate a change of heart just as the angels do. There is a time to stop destructive laughter; there is a time to appreciate God’s sense of humor. In Psalm 2, God laughs when we boast of our strength. “He who sits in the heavens laughs” (v. 4a). God thinks it’s funny when we make plans and don’t add the words “God willing” or consider the brevity and frailty of our earthly lives.
The most striking example of evil laughter being transformed into godly laughter is when Jesus is crucified. Those who crucified Jesus mocked him and even put a sign over his head to make a joke of him which says, “King of the Jews.” But three days later, God adds his own punchline when Jesus rises victoriously from the dead. He is not merely the King of the Jews. He is Lord of lords and King of kings—he reigns over heaven and earth. He is King of the universe.
The average person laughs 17 times a day. When we laugh 100 times a day it is the equivalent of 15 minutes of cardiovascular exercise. Laughter is good for the body, heart, and soul. Research suggests that laughter strengthens our immune systems, boosts our mood, diminishes pain and the damaging effects of stress. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Here we have the promise of laughter from the lips of Jesus. “You will laugh.” In Christ we have joy that transcends sorrow, we receive love that is deeper than heartbreak, and we celebrate lives transformed by the powerful reign of God.
Today is All Saints Sunday. We remember our friends and loved ones who are no longer with us. I think about my parents every day. I remember what each of them found funny. I remember how each of them made me laugh. Laughter was particularly important to my mom. When my sisters, brother, or I would talk about time with friends and family, my mom would always ask the same, strange question: “Did you laugh a lot?” We actually thought the question itself was hilarious. But it was genius. My mom wanted to make sure that our lives were full of joy and laughter. Even while she was in hospice in the final days of her life, she made us laugh. She asked me to speak at her funeral and—as you might already have guessed—she asked me to make sure there was laughter. And thanks be to God, there was.
We cherish the memory of loved ones who are no longer with us. They were not perfect. We even laugh at their quirks and imperfections. Our laughter is in gratitude for having known them and the funny stories we still share. Our loss on earth is God’s gain in heaven. We will laugh with them again. In the meantime, God meets us in our sorrows. Even now there is much to laugh about. We act foolishly, selfishly, and sinfully but in Christ we have forgiveness. We do not know what we are doing. We learn to laugh at ourselves. We also celebrate God’s mercy and the One who laid down his life for us on the Cross. The tomb where they lay Jesus is now empty. In the resurrection, we laugh, dance, and give shouts of praise. We can even laugh in the face of death and say, “O death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” In Christ all our tears will be wiped away. It will only be the beginning of eternal laughter.
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