Did Jesus smile?
Several years ago, I was the worship leader at a church. I loved it. To lead people in worship was a joy and I always tried to present myself as a joyful leader. It’s easy when you love to worship Jesus. Joy is almost automatic.
Well, anyway, after church one Sunday my wife and I were eating at a local restaurant when one of the long time members of the church came into the restaurant with her husband. They walked over to our table and began to talk. She said, “This morning at church as you were leading worship, I could see that you were happy and enjoyed what you were doing.” I smiled and was feeling real good. I thought I was getting a compliment. Then she went on. “And that just disgusts me to no end.”
She said, “When Jesus entered a town he walked in with six disciples flanked on the right and six on the left. He didn’t smile and He certainly didn’t lift His hands and look happy when He sang.”
At first I thought she was joking, but I could tell by the look on her face she wasn’t.
As Christians we are to be like Jesus. But what was Jesus like? Was He a happy person? Did He get depressed? Did He show joy and happiness? Or was He stern and solemn all the time? Well, let’s look to the Bible and see what it says.
In Luke 10 Jesus sent seventy disciples out into the cities He was planning to go to. He gave them instructions and when they returned, they gave Him a good report. They said that even the demons were subject to His name. In verse 21, the Bible says that Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit. The Greek word used in this verse suggests “shouting and leaping with joy.” Can you imagine that? Jesus -- shouting and leaping with joy! If you can’t, you probably have a religious image of Jesus.
In Matthew 19:13, little children were brought to Jesus and He prayed for them. When the disciples tried to keep the children away, Jesus rebuked them. He said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven.” Here it is strongly implied that the children wanted to go to Jesus. Would children be drawn to a grumpy, rigid, mean old man? Of course not! Children are attracted to joyful people who smile and laugh.
In John 15, Jesus taught his disciples about love and in verse 11 He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Jesus said He was joyful and He wanted us to have His joy.
Listen, God loved us so much that He made a way for us to live throughout all eternity and never die. Through faith He made a way for us to have special gifts that would help us supernaturally. He gave us His Word that He would heal, prosper and deliver us. He gave us His Holy Spirit as a comforter, helper and intercessor. He gave us supernatural love. He gave us peace, not peace like the world gives, but once again, supernatural peace.
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
If we really believe this is true, how can we not jump for joy?
Dr. Larry Ollison
Several years ago, I was the worship leader at a church. I loved it. To lead people in worship was a joy and I always tried to present myself as a joyful leader. It’s easy when you love to worship Jesus. Joy is almost automatic.
Well, anyway, after church one Sunday my wife and I were eating at a local restaurant when one of the long time members of the church came into the restaurant with her husband. They walked over to our table and began to talk. She said, “This morning at church as you were leading worship, I could see that you were happy and enjoyed what you were doing.” I smiled and was feeling real good. I thought I was getting a compliment. Then she went on. “And that just disgusts me to no end.”
She said, “When Jesus entered a town he walked in with six disciples flanked on the right and six on the left. He didn’t smile and He certainly didn’t lift His hands and look happy when He sang.”
At first I thought she was joking, but I could tell by the look on her face she wasn’t.
As Christians we are to be like Jesus. But what was Jesus like? Was He a happy person? Did He get depressed? Did He show joy and happiness? Or was He stern and solemn all the time? Well, let’s look to the Bible and see what it says.
In Luke 10 Jesus sent seventy disciples out into the cities He was planning to go to. He gave them instructions and when they returned, they gave Him a good report. They said that even the demons were subject to His name. In verse 21, the Bible says that Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit. The Greek word used in this verse suggests “shouting and leaping with joy.” Can you imagine that? Jesus -- shouting and leaping with joy! If you can’t, you probably have a religious image of Jesus.
In Matthew 19:13, little children were brought to Jesus and He prayed for them. When the disciples tried to keep the children away, Jesus rebuked them. He said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven.” Here it is strongly implied that the children wanted to go to Jesus. Would children be drawn to a grumpy, rigid, mean old man? Of course not! Children are attracted to joyful people who smile and laugh.
In John 15, Jesus taught his disciples about love and in verse 11 He said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” Jesus said He was joyful and He wanted us to have His joy.
Listen, God loved us so much that He made a way for us to live throughout all eternity and never die. Through faith He made a way for us to have special gifts that would help us supernaturally. He gave us His Word that He would heal, prosper and deliver us. He gave us His Holy Spirit as a comforter, helper and intercessor. He gave us supernatural love. He gave us peace, not peace like the world gives, but once again, supernatural peace.
James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
If we really believe this is true, how can we not jump for joy?
Dr. Larry Ollison
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