Laughter Like Medicine

 
“And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me."

 Genesis 21:6

Like most people I know, I love to laugh, and I enjoy making people laugh and being around people who do too. One of the things that attracted me to my wife when we first met was that she loved to laugh and her laugh was so contagious. It’s good to laugh the Bible teaches us. We read in Proverbs 17:22, “A merry heart does good, like medicine” and if there is anything this world could use these days with all that is going on in the world is something to laugh about. Studies show that laughing can do more for your heart and soul than many medications can. Laughter is God’s medicine and believe it or not our Bible’s are filled with stories that when you read them you have to laugh.

Seriously, have you ever been reading your bible and began to laugh at what you were reading? After all, it was Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation who once said, “When the angels of heaven need a laugh they read commentary.” Try to imagine all the stories angels could tell as they have watched creation unfold throughout eternity. I’m sure we have given them plenty to laugh about it. There is an old saying, “truth is stranger than fiction” and it’s true. Often times real life events are stranger than imaginary ones. Imagine one day sitting next to an angel in heaven, and every time the angel looks at you they laugh. At first it starts off as a slight giggle and then ends up with the deep belly laugh that brings tears to your eyes. You ask what’s so funny and they respond, you! Too hard for you to imagine? Ok, how about the apostle Peter in the book of Acts? After all, he is in most jokes people tell about heaven anyway.

Imagine the angels watching the day that Peter was thrown in prison by king Herod that we read about in the book of Acts who wanted to harass Christians and while Peter sat in a prison cell a group of Jesus followers gathered in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark to pray for Peter’s release. I’m not an angel but like you, I am called a “saint” and I laugh every time I read this story, so I am inclined to think the angels might find it funny too.

In Acts 12:5-16 we read, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people." So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!" Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, "It is his angel." Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.”

I laugh because I can relate to everyone in the story at one time or another. Like Peter I have experienced the miracle working power of God in my own life. God has delivered me more than once from the chains that have bound me as others faithfully prayed for me. I can relate to those praying in this scene and how we often times pray never really even thinking God just might answer our prayers. We have no expectation, only our commitment to lift up our requests to God so when God does answer our prayer like He did here in Acts 12 we are completely unaware. If someone was to say, “God has answered your prayer” we most likely would respond with the same answer Rhoda was met with, “you are beside yourself.” It’s here I believe the angels of heaven can’t contain themselves any longer as the scene unfolding on earth looks like a comedy. As they pray for Peter’s release inside Peter is persistently knocking on the door from the outside asking to be let in. The problem is no believes its Peter so they leave him outside until it finally dawns on those praying that God has actually answered their prayers.

Yes, friends, our Bible is filled with stories like this, stories that are true but will seem more like fiction when you read them. From Samson and Delilah in Judges 16, to Balam’s talking donkey that we read of in Numbers 22. Don’t forget Aaron not knowing how he made the golden calf in Exodus 32 or Eutychus in Acts 20 falling out the window to his death after falling asleep as the apostle Paul preached. Don’t worry the story ends well as Paul runs down and revives him. Yes, our Bible is filled with funny stories that are sure to make you laugh. Laughter is good for the soul and if you look around today life will happen that is sure to give you cause to chuckle. Don’t miss your chance!



“He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, And your lips with rejoicing.”

Job 8:21


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