The Laughter of Christ

The Dalai Lama of Tibet is said to have an extraordinary laugh, one that rises frequently and joyfully from deep within his body. This is something we don’t attribute to Jesus much: laughter. We get so caught up with Jesus’s end game and the “man of sorrows” image that we lose sight of how much fun he must have been to be around.

After all, Jesus certainly wouldn’t have been welcomed to the dinner table of so many sinners and outcasts had he been a bore¹. He kept telling his disciples to “be of good cheer,” and he wasn’t the kind of teacher to be all talk. Jesus must have been full of cheer himself, with a spontaneous sense of humor and a hearty laugh.

When we laugh we leave ego and pride at the doorstep; we forget and forgive ourselves, as well as the trespasses of others. We move closer to Christ and the kingdom of heaven at hand. Eternity is a mere moment, said the writer Hermann Hesse, just long enough for a joke.

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To read about whether or not God is Winnie the Pooh, go to: God is Pooh Bear

1. Now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, they are saying: “Here is a glutton and a wino, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!” And yet wisdom is vindicated by her actions – Mat 11:19 [↩]

Matthew – Gospel 20 – You Shall Drink From My Cup

“For the kingdom of heaven is like an employer who went out in the early morning to hire laborers for his vineyards. 2 He agreed with the laborers to pay them two shillings a day, and sent them into his vineyard. 3 On going out again, about nine o’clock, he saw some others standing in the market-place, doing nothing. 4 ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said, ‘and I will pay you what is fair.’”

5 “So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and about three o’clock, he did as before. 6 When he went out about five, he found some other men standing there, and said to them ‘Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?’ 7 ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. ‘You also may go into my vineyard,’ he said.”

8 “In the evening the owner of the vineyard said to his steward ‘Call the laborers, and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, and ending with the first. 9 Now when those who had been hired about five o’clock went up, they received two shillings each. 10 So, when the first went up, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received two shillings each; 11 On which they began to grumble at their employer. 12 ‘These last,’ they said, ‘have done only one hour’s work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day’s work, and the heat.’”

13 “‘My friend,’ was his reply to one of them, ‘I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings? 14 Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Have not I the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am liberal?’ 16 So those who are last will be first, and the first last.”

17 When Jesus was at the point of going up to Jerusalem, he gathered the twelve disciples round him by themselves, and said to them as they were on their way: 18 “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law, and they will condemn him to death, 19 And give him up to the Gentiles for them to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify; and on the third day he will rise.”

20 Then the mother of Zebediah’s sons came to him with her sons, bowing to the ground, and begging a favor. 21 “What is it that you want?” he asked. “I want you to say,” she replied, “that in your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right, and the other on your left.”
22 “You do not know what you are asking,” was Jesus’ answer. “Can you drink the cup that I am to drink?” “Yes,” they exclaimed, “we can.” 23 “You shall indeed drink from my cup,” he said, “but as to a seat at my right and at my left, that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

24 On hearing of this, the ten others were very indignant about the two brothers. 25 Jesus, however, called the ten to him, and said: “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them as you know, and their great men oppress them. 26 Among you it is not so. 27 No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave; 28 Just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

29 As they were going out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men, who were sitting by the road-side, hearing that Jesus was passing, called out: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!” 31 The crowd told them to be quiet; but the men only called out the louder: “Take pity on us, Master, Son of David!” 32 Then Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he said. 33 “Master,” they replied, “we want our eyes to be opened.” 34 So Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight, and followed him.

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To read the next chapter of the Book of Matthew, please go to The Gospel of Matthew – 21.

This Online New Testament Gospel of Matthew is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.

Challenge your perceptions on the Gospel of Christ, Jesus’s parables, and the Kingdom of God by purchasing The Lord’s Prayer book today. Produced by LivingHour.org, a Thailand-based small press dedicated to publishing unique Learn Thai Language books and eBooks, as well as works on progressive spirituality.

Matthew – Gospel 21 – Parable of the Vineyard

When they had almost reached Jerusalem, having come as far as Bethphage, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent on two disciples. 2 “Go to the village facing you,” he said, “and you will immediately find a donkey tethered, with a foal by her side; untie her, and lead her here for me. 3 And, if anyone says anything to you, you are to say this: ‘The Master wants them’; and he will send them at once.” 4 This happened in fulfillment of these words by the prophet: 5 ‘Say to the daughter of Zion: Behold, thy King is coming to thee, Gentle, and riding on an ass, and on the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They led the ass and the foal back, and, when they had put their cloaks on them, he seated himself upon them. 8 The immense crowd of people spread their cloaks in the road, while some cut branches off the trees, and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that led the way, as well as those that followed behind, kept shouting: “God save the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! God save him from on high!”

10 When he had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred, and asked: 11 “Who is this?”, to which the crowd replied: “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” 12 Jesus went into the temple courts, and drove out all those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of the pigeon-dealers, 13 And said to them: “Scripture says: ‘My House shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it ‘a den of thieves.’”

14 While he was still in the temple courts, some blind and some lame people came up to him, and he cured them. 15 But, when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things that Jesus did, and the boys who were calling out in the temple courts, “God save the Son of David!”, they were indignant, 16 And said to him: “Do you hear what these boys are saying?” “Yes,” answered Jesus; “but did you never read the words: ‘Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou has called forth perfect praise’?”

17 Then he left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there. 18 The next morning, in returning to the city, Jesus became hungry; 19 And, noticing a solitary fig tree by the road-side; he went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. So he said to it: “Never again shall fruit be gathered off you.” And suddenly the fruit tree withered up.

20 When the disciples saw this, they exclaimed in astonishment: “How suddenly the fig tree withered up!” 21 “I tell you,” replied Jesus, “if you have faith, without ever a doubt, you will do what not only has been done to the fig tree, but, even if you should say to this hill: ‘Be lifted up and hurled into the sea!’ it would be done. 22 And whatever you ask for in your prayers will, if you have faith, be granted you.” 23 After Jesus had come into the temple courts, the chief priests and the councilors of the nation came up to him as he was teaching, and said: “What authority have you to do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

24 “I, too,” said Jesus in reply, “will ask you one question; if you will give me an answer to it, then I, also, will tell you what authority I have to act as I do. 25 It is about John’s baptism. What was its origin? Divine or human?” But they began arguing among themselves: “If we say, ‘divine,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did not you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘human’, we are afraid of the people, for everyone regards John as a prophet.” 27 So the answer they gave Jesus was: “We do not know.”

“Then I,” Jesus said, “refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things. 28 What do you think of this? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the elder and said, ‘Go and work in the vineyard today my son.’ 29 ‘Yes, sir,’ he answered; but he did not go. 30 Then the father went to the second son, and said the same. ‘I will not,’ he answered; but afterwards he was sorry and went.”

31 “Which of the two sons did as his father wished?” “The second,” they said. “I tell you,” added Jesus, “that tax-collectors and prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For when John came to you, walking in the path of righteousness, you did not believe him, but tax-gatherers and prostitutes did; and yet you, though you saw this, even then were not sorry, nor did you believe him.”

33 “Listen to another parable. A man, who was an employer, once planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, and then rented it out to tenants and went abroad. 34 When the time for the vintage drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive his share of the produce. 35 But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 A second time the owner sent some servants, a larger number than before, and the tenants treated them in the same way.”

37 As a last resource he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 But the tenants, on seeing his son, said to each other ‘Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and get his inheritance.’ 39 So they seized him, and threw him outside the vineyard, and killed him.”

40 Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “Miserable wretches!” they exclaimed, “he will put them to a miserable death, and he will rent out the vineyard to other tenants, who will pay him his share of the produce at the proper times.”

42 Then Jesus added: “Have you never read in the scriptures that the very stone which the builders despised has now itself become the corner-stone; this corner-stone has come from the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 And that, I tell you, is why the kingdom of God will be taken from you, and given to a nation that does produce the fruit of the kingdom. 44 Yes, and he who falls on this stone will be dashed to pieces, while anyone on whom it falls, it will scatter him as dust.”

45 After listening to these parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees saw that it was about them that he was speaking. 46 Yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded him as a prophet.

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To read the next chapter of the Book of Matthew, please go to The Gospel of Matthew – 22.

This Online New Testament Gospel of Matthew is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.

Challenge your perceptions on the Gospel of Christ, Jesus’s parables, and the Kingdom of God by purchasing The Lord’s Prayer book today. Produced by LivingHour.org, a Thailand-based small press dedicated to publishing unique Learn Thai Language books and eBooks, as well as works on progressive spirituality.

Matthew – Gospel 25 – Foolish Servant & Bridesmaids

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them; 4 While the prudent ones, besides taking their lamps, took oil in their jars. 5 As the bridegroom was late in coming, they all became drowsy, and slept. 6 But at midnight a shout was raised: ‘The Bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’

7 Then all the bridesmaids awoke and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the prudent: ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent ones answered: ‘No, for fear that there will not be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell it, and buy for yourselves.’10 But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom came; and the bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Afterwards the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir, Sir,’ they said, ‘open the door to us!’12 But the bridegroom answered ‘I tell you, I do not know you.’

13 Therefore watch, since you know neither the day nor the hour. 14 For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge. 15 He gave three thousand pounds to one, twelve hundred to another, and six hundred to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on his travels. 16 The man who had received the three thousand pounds went at once and traded with it, and made another three thousand. 17 So, too, the man who had received the twelve hundred pounds made another twelve hundred. 18 But the servant who had received the six hundred went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

19 After a long time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the three thousand pounds came up and brought three thousand more. ‘Sir,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with three thousand pounds; look, I have made another three thousand!’ 21 ‘Well done, good, trustworthy servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master’s joy!’

22 Then the one who had received the twelve hundred pounds came up and said ‘Sir, you entrusted me with twelve hundred pounds; look, I have made another twelve hundred!’ 23 ‘Well done, good, trustworthy servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master’s joy!’

24 The man who had received the six hundred pounds came up, too, and said: ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed; 25 And, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what belongs to you!’ 26 ‘You lazy, worthless servant!’ was his master’s reply. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather up where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have placed my money in the hands of bankers, and I, on my return, should have received my money, with interest.

28 ‘Therefore,’ he continued, ‘take away from him the six hundred pounds, and give it to the one who has the six thousand. 29 For, to him who has, more will be given, and he shall have abundance; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him. 30 As for the useless servant, ‘put him out into the darkness’ outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’

31 When the Son of Man has come in his glory and all the angels with him, then he ‘will take his seat on his throne of glory’; 32 And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people, just as a shepherd separates sheep from goats; 33 Placing the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right: ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, enter upon possession of the kingdom prepared for you ever since the beginning of the world.”

35 “For, when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger, you took me to your homes; 36 When I was naked, you clothed me; when I fell ill, you visited me; and when I was in prison, you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes? Or naked, and clothe you? 39 When did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?’ 40 And the king will reply: ‘I tell you, as often as you did it to one these my brothers and sisters, however lowly, you did it to me.’

41 Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go from my presence, accursed, into the ‘aeonian fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.’ 42 For, when I was hungry, you gave me no food; when I was thirsty, you gave me no drink; 43 When I was a stranger, you did not take me to your homes; when I was naked, you did not clothe me; and, when I was ill and in prison, you did not visit me.’

44 Then they, in their turn, will answer: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and did not supply your wants?’ 45 And then he will reply: ‘I tell you, as often as you failed to do it to one of these, however lowly, you failed: to do it to me.’ 46 And these last will go away ‘into aeonian punishment,’ but the righteous ‘into aeonian life.’”

To read the next chapter of the Book of Matthew, please go toThe Gospel of Matthew – 26.

This Online New Testament Gospel of Matthew is excerpted from the book The Living Hour: The Lord’s Prayer for Daily Life (with New Century Gospels). Including over 200 bookmarked citations from the canonical Gospels, this Progressive Christian book appeals to the Unitarian spirit at the heart of all faiths.

Challenge your perceptions on the Gospel of Christ, Jesus’s parables, and the Kingdom of God by purchasing The Lord’s Prayer book today. Produced by LivingHour.org, a Thailand-based small press dedicated to publishing unique Learn Thai Language books and eBooks, as well as works on progressive spirituality.

Tags: Angels, Bible Study, Bridesmaids, Foolish, Gospel, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus, Kingdom of Heaven, Lord, New Testament, Progressive Christian, Reap, Servant, Son of Man, Sown, Unitarian