One of the episodes in the bible when it must have been true that Jesus was joking was at that point in the gospels when Jesus looks at Simon and says to him, "You are a 'rock' and upon this rock I will build my church."
The humor behind those words is evident when we think about the kind of person Simon was. To call Simon a rock had to be a joke. He was impetuous, irresponsible, and irritable. Peter was a ticking time-bomb of a human being. Of all the disciples to think that this particular one would be called "rock" had to leave the other disciples laughing.
Peter is one who fell asleep when Jesus asked him to stay awake with him in the garden before his arrest.
Peter is the disciple who cuts off the ear of the Roman guard when Jesus is arrested.
Peter is the disciple who claimed he would stay with Jesus no matter what happened to him, and Peter is the one who denied he even knew Jesus after Jesus had been taken away and the Romans were rounding up the followers of Jesus for trial and arrest.
Simon, called by Jesus Peter, must have been a joke. The name Jesus gave him must have been some inside humor and it seem obvious the disciple got the joke when Jesus called Simon by his new name.
What do you think about the humor in the bible and do you think Jesus was serious when he called Simon "Peter"?
There is much humor in the bible. Seriously, Jesus was joking many times when the interpreters have taken him soberly and have missed the point.
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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