A Community of the Living and the Dead

Why portray a laughing Jesus? So much art portrays Jesus in agony on the cross. Other art shows Jesus engaged in the serious work of healing and teaching. Images of Jesus dancing and laughing are almost non-existent. Although the Bible never specifically mentions that Jesus laughed, theologians have long recognized that he must have, because laughter is such an important part of what it means to be human, and so laughter must have been a part of Jesus’ full humanity. And while many moments of Jesus’ life were certainly solemn, we describe his life, his healing and teaching ministry, his resurrection and legacy as “gospel,” “good news,” so joy is the overall emotion we can associate with him.