Enjoy Life, Enjoy God
LAUGHING AT JESUS
May 16, 2011
I'm not sure it's very common to laugh at Jesus; but sadly sometimes with cause, Christians do get laughed at by the watching world.
Jesus went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him.
- Mark 5:39,40 NIV
Jairus, the synagogue leader, summoned Jesus to save his dying daughter's life. When Jesus arrives, it's too late; she's died. The hired mourners already are there. Story over. Not so fast. Jesus challenges them all, "She's not dead but asleep." And they all laugh, not so much because it's funny, but who is this insensitive, crazy man? Yet Jesus does not have the last laugh, he brings life and triumphant news in the midst of the most acute grief. When Jesus presents the daughter to them all, Jesus has the last word; and no one's laughing, but rejoicing.
So? In Christ, we are faithful and wise not to allow the immediate and apparent circumstances to narrow our vision so that we are blind to the Christ-given hope and future. Let's set aside our faltering faith, and look to our Lord to breathe new hope, even new life into us this very day.
Joyfully,
Dale Patterson