You Will Laugh

Many years ago -- Chuck showing off his
"blowfish" skills. Did it make you laugh?

Scripture:

²¹ “Blessed are you who are hungry now,

for you will be filled.

“Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

Observation:

Luke’s Sermon on the Plain is not identical to Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. There are nuanced differences that you find throughout his shorter version. He adds the word “now” to show the immediate need of the individual. If you are hungry now — you will be filled. These are fulfillments of Old Testament promises where God will satisfy the hungry and bring comfort and joy to his people.  There is the allusion to the Messianic banquet when the Lord will prepare a table, and wipe away all the tears from our eyes (Isa. 25:6-8). This vision of the coming banquet is common in Luke, and here he is making this introduction. 

We sing about the comfort and joy that our Lord brings. Matthew says that those who weep now will be comforted. Luke’s reference is to laughter and this is a lively word of joy. Yes — those who weep will not only be comforted but will be filled with joy until they laugh. 

Application:

When’s the last time you had a really good belly laugh — where you accidentally snorted and were embarrassed by this little outburst? It feels good doesn’t it? There’s something about that kind of laughter that wells up inside of you that comes from a deep space of joy and contentment. In that moment, nothing else matters because you are consumed with laughter and joy. It’s when you get the giggles during a church service and the harder you try, the more the laughter just wants to spurt out of you. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” 

I’d never noticed this use of the word laugh by Luke, where Matthew uses comforted. Maybe it’s because we spend most of our time focusing on Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. However, I quite like this idea of those who weep, laughing. To me, there is a fine line between these two expressions of emotion. I was at my grandfather’s funeral many years ago and we had been weeping, mourning his passing. However, when we joined together for the funeral dinner in the basement of the church, people soon began sharing stories of grandpa’s life and of the whole Johnson family. Before long the room was filled with laughter and joy. Our weeping was turned to laughter, and it felt good. 

Luke’s implication is that those who are weeping now are in need of deep comfort and joy. Those who come to Jesus with great need and emotional pain will find themselves comforted and filled with joy, resulting in laughter. It’s only when we are willing to bring our pain to the Lord that we can learn to laugh again. 

The year 2020 was one that most of us would have never imagined. It makes us hold our breath a little as we have moved into 2021. If in the last year you have not laughed, but have found everything terribly troubling, then turn to Jesus. He wants to wipe away our tears and turn our sorrow into joy. Yes, we can even laugh in the midst of troubling times, when Jesus is with us. 

When’s the last time you laughed? Maybe we need to bring our weeping to Jesus now. 

Prayer:

Lord, may your presence fill me with joy and comfort today.  Amen.