Though the Bible is not a comic book, we shouldn’t run away with the impression that God is basically dour and is devoid of the capacity either to produce or enjoy humour.
Let us look at something that should bring a smile to our lips and lift our hearts, as we regard God’s deep sense of humour which is inevitably intertwined with His desire to increase our faith. Jesus is no comedian; His mission was to save people from their sins. Towards this objective He employed many methods including performance of miracles when appropriate. But He was no magician either, as the tetrarch Herod discovered to his disappointment (Luke 23:8)
Soak in the following passage from Luke 24. There is many a useful lesson that we can draw from it.:
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
19 And He said to them, “What things?”
So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was [i]known to them in the breaking of bread.
Proceeding chronologically, the first significant thing we notice is that
Jesus drew near. And when does He draw near? When the conversation is about Him, about heavenly matters that matter. Conversely, when we are palavering about things that are far from beneficial, edifying or uplifting, He keeps His distance, He stays afar. He leaves us alone- to our own devices.
What is the subject of your discussion?
Secondly He listens. Some way into the conversation comes the question: “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Contrary to the statement in a popular wall-text that adorns many a home, He is not a “silent listener to every conversation”.
Thirdly He participates. He questions. Why, He challenges!
What about us?
When the discussion takes a turn that is toxic, or even merely untruthful and lacking in a proper understanding or misdirected there is nothing to be gained by holding our peace – if we know better. “There is a time to be silent and a time to speak ” says the Preacher (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Jesus didn’t send out His disciples for them to keep their mouths shut. The verse is “ Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Worried about what exactly to say? “Open your mouth wide He says and I will it“(Psalm 81:10) says the Lord.
This is not about wisdom, people, which may counsel you that it is best not to voice your views and get into trouble; it may whisper gently in your ears to go with the majority view, don’t stir the hornet’s nest. Play it safe, keep your mouth shut for the sake of peace.
This is about conviction, about Truth. About standing up for what is right, about giving voice to the suppressed, oppressed, marginalized and the vulnerable. Lesser people that the Government does not care about. Who make no difference to the vote bank. It certainly is not about balance as some newspapers seem to think. It is about embracing the just and the equitable.
Yes, getting into trouble is a distinct possibility. Make no mistake about that. Quite often there is a price to pay for speaking up. In a freedom struggle, either you can incur the wrath of the Colonial power by standing upto it or you can buy your personal freedom by writing mercy petitions from the gaol. On which side will you rather be?
Thirdly He notices our demeanour. He asks the disciples why they were sad.
Let us look at verses 18 and 19. Jesus doesn’t give a straight answer to Cleophas, cleverly circuventing the ” are you only a stranger” question. Instead, He counters his interrogative with another question that brings out the story teller in Cleophas; he in any case is brimming with the desire to share the stunning account with anybody, just anybody and doesn’t need much prompting. But what an irony that he is led to tell the story to the very man at the heart of it all, the central figure in the whole drama, the hero, protagonist.
Humour at its subtlest!
In uttering the question “What things?” seemingly in all innocence, Jesus is quietly drawing out the disciples and gauging their faith quotient. As God, He knows it already but here he makes them confess – as it were-in order to apply corrective measures that will increse their faith.
Jesus pointed out the lacuna in their understanding. And when Jesus opens His mouth again to speak, He isn’t mollycoddling them. He is quite forthright and direct. His words were: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Jesus is somebody who always called a spade a spade. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7) . Remember He once called Herod the fox (Luke 13:32). As a diplomat Jesus was a complete failure. As an activist, He sparkles.
What are we, back slapping, beer sharing, bear hugging peaceniks or are we different – the kind that is not afraid to be booted out of the first class compartment for what we are, for the colour of our skin, for the truth of our beliefs?
Jesus knew the scriptures. Please note that Jesus expounded from all the scriptures. He wasn’t a golden verse calendar person! He had read, He had studied, He had compared, He was inspired, He was illuminted by the Holy Spirit. If the devil could quote scripture Jesus had no problem beating him down with another. He knew very well all the “again it is said” verses.
What is your knowledge of the Bible? The Word of God, the sword of the Spirit. Are you well equipped to ward off the eveil one? Or are you constucting a “gospel number” on the basis of one incomeplete verse and going to town with a silly song and dance? And making a YouTube that engenders half-baked Christians?
Jesus doesn’t outlast His welcome. His mission completed “He indicated that He would have gone farther”. But the disciples wanted more of Him. “Abide with us” they said.
What are you telling Jesus? Please stay away from me, I want to indulge in the deeds of darkness? You go your way and I go mine. It was nice listening to you. We will think about what you said. So long!
He sits at the table with us and He breaks bread. He wants to commune with us. He wants to reveal Himself as the one whose body was broken for us on the cross.
He wants to open our eyes.
Once that happens, there is no point in tarrying in Emmaus any more.They started on their return journery; “they rose up that very hour.”
Once you know the truth about Jesus, you’ve got to get going. The Truth needs to be told to others, and without any loss of time. It matters little what your business was in Emmaus to start with. Nobody knows. Whatever it was, it was completely eclipsed once your eyes are opened and you behold Jesus. Oh, maybe this indeed was the purpose of the 7 mile trek!
Oh, the delicious irony of it all!!
What things, indeed.
______________________________________________________
Enjoyed the insights Annan! Thank you!
Thank you for the encouragement