I believe there is a lot of evidence that Jesus had a sense of humor too. The wit of Jesus ranges from the so-called lowest form of humor, the pun, to a sophisticated use of understatement. There are numerous examples of Jesus’ exaggeration, satire, sarcasm, and irony preserved in the New Testament. These categories are not mutually exclusive; on the contrary, there is exaggeration in Jesus’ irony, sarcasm in his satire, and word play throughout. For instance...
His Exaggeration:
Jesus often uses hyperbole to convey his wisdom. For example, he asks why we so easily see the speck in our neighbor’s eye and fail to notice the log in our own. There is a cartoon quality to this image. The idea of part of a tree trunk sticking out of one’s eye socket is preposterous. Equally ludicrous is the picture of a hyper-critical hypocrite inspecting someone else’s eye for tiny flaws. The combination of these images is a recipe for a wry smile.
Other examples of exaggeration involve Jesus’ use of camels as metaphors. He accuses Pharisees of straining gnats and swallowing camels. The saying would have been memorable in Aramaic because of a word play between “gnat” [kalma] and “camel” [gamla]. In pursuit of ritual purity a devout man would strain the unclean gnat from his wine. Yet, by meticulous observance of the law he manages to swallow a camel, a much larger unclean animal and thus commits a greater sin. Jesus portrays the Pharisees as being zealous about trivialities while overlooking their graver transgressions. Once again, the very small is juxtaposed with the very large to humorous effect.
Another use of the camel metaphor is the saying, “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God”. The disciples were astonished at this saying. Some commentators are no less amazed and, failing to see the obvious use of overstatement, attempt to domesticate the image by looking for deeper meanings. Scholars used to say that Jesus was referring to a gate in Jerusalem called the needle’s eye through which camels could pass only on their knees, but this interpretation has no basis in fact. George Lamsa says that the Aramaic word translated “camel” also means “large rope” and that Jesus probably meant that a rope could sooner pass through a needle’s eye than a rich man could enter the kingdom of God.
Matthew’s twenty-third chapter encapsulates the condemnation of hypocrisy, a recurrent theme in Jesus’ teaching. He exhorts people to do as the Pharisees say, not as they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They are blind guides of the blind, straining gnats and swallowing camels. They clean the outsides of their plates and cups but leave the insides – the part from which they eat and drink – dirty. They are whitewashed tombs with shiny exteriors which belie the spiritual decay inside. Jesus calls the Pharisees snakes and a brood of vipers. Jesus is obviously upset. For this reason, the humor is easy to miss.
His Sarcasm
Jesus’ use of satire is enough to show that the idea of a meek and gentle Savior is not always the case when dealing with certain people. Jesus’ tongue could be sharp and his wit biting and sardonic.
On three occasions Jesus responds to a question by saying “You say so,” or as we might say, “You said it.” Judas asks Jesus if he is the one who will betray him; Caiaphas demands that Jesus say whether he is the Messiah; Pilate asks Jesus if he is king of the Jews. In each case Jesus turns the question back on the questioner, embarrassing him, for he realizes that the questions are not put in good faith. The reactions of the questioners to Jesus’ response indicates that they were abashed.Another example of sarcasm is in the parable of the new wine and the old wine skins. However only Luke preserves the humor. Jesus says that no one puts new wine in old wine skins since it would crack the skins and the wine would be lost. Similarly, religious legalism is not an adequate vehicle for Jesus’ radical teaching. In Luke, the parable is rounded out by an afterthought: some are sure to say, “Aged wine is just fine!” Jesus was realistic enough to realize that there would be many who would say, “Give me that old time religion.” People will trust the old ways rather than venture into untested waters, or wines.
His Irony
An example of Jesus’ irony is his exchange with the Pharisees and their scribes when they criticize him for hobnobbing with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners”. If read literally, Jesus is implying that the Pharisees are righteous, that they have no need of his message. But this was obviously not his meaning. Earlier he warns, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”.
The Pharisees and their scribes to whom Jesus refers had what we would call a “holier than thou” attitude; they set themselves apart from those they considered sinners. Modern homespun wisdom would say that they put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else. One can imagine the Pharisees going away from the exchange with Jesus miffed while others elbow each other and muffle their laughter.
Another example of irony is when Jesus names Simon Peter “Cephas” and says “on this rock” the church would be built. It is well-known that there is a pun on Peter’s name. The Aramaic word for rock is kephaand the Greek word for rock is petra. This same play on words is possible in French. The French word for Peter is Pierre and the word for rock is also pierre. The pun is obvious. What has not been obvious to many is that the pun is ironic.
The scriptures portrait of Peter is anything but flattering. He is the one who tried to walk on water but lacked the requisite faith and sank like a rock. Peter also seems to have been slow to grasp some of Jesus’ basic ideas. When Peter asks for an explanation of a parable Jesus replies in exasperation, “Are you also still without understanding?” Modern translation? Peter, are you still an ignoramus?
The Pharisees and their scribes to whom Jesus refers had what we would call a “holier than thou” attitude; they set themselves apart from those they considered sinners. Modern homespun wisdom would say that they put their pants on one leg at a time just like everyone else. One can imagine the Pharisees going away from the exchange with Jesus miffed while others elbow each other and muffle their laughter.
Another example of irony is when Jesus names Simon Peter “Cephas” and says “on this rock” the church would be built. It is well-known that there is a pun on Peter’s name. The Aramaic word for rock is kephaand the Greek word for rock is petra. This same play on words is possible in French. The French word for Peter is Pierre and the word for rock is also pierre. The pun is obvious. What has not been obvious to many is that the pun is ironic.
The scriptures portrait of Peter is anything but flattering. He is the one who tried to walk on water but lacked the requisite faith and sank like a rock. Peter also seems to have been slow to grasp some of Jesus’ basic ideas. When Peter asks for an explanation of a parable Jesus replies in exasperation, “Are you also still without understanding?” Modern translation? Peter, are you still an ignoramus?
Peter’s character mirrors perennial human frailties. There is nothing special about him. However, a rock is solid, calling to mind stability and reliability. Peter does not fit the description of one who is a rock. He is more like the sand.
To say that there is irony in calling Peter a rock is not to deny that there is also truth in the saying. Jesus saw people more for what they could be than what they were. Peter may have sunk like a rock, but he had the faith to venture onto the waters. According to the church historians Peter died a martyr’s death in Rome. He may not have been a “rock” when Jesus met him, but he became one during his journey of faith.
But we can learn a lot from humor, especially from Jesus at what He found funny. Odd thing is, His humor was often directed at you and me because of the fickle foibles of human nature. This can be a bitter and embarrassing pill to swallow at times. But his humor is evident and his teachings profoundly accurate.
