I
met a neighbor of mine as I walked Pal this morning. He said that he
was bored to death staying in the house all the time. As I sat down
to the computer do make a post, I realized that the most useful thing
that I could today, was to share a joke with you. After all, a
joke is really good news in disguise that has a punch line. Thinking
about humor, I wondered: is there anything humorous in the
Scriptures? And then I thought of the book of Acts…
Acts
12 ( World English
Bible )
[1] Now
about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some
of the assembly. [2] He
killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. [3] When
he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also.
This was during the days of unleavened bread. [4] When
he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four
squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out
to the people after the Passover. [5] Peter
therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the
assembly to God for him. [6] The
same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping
between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the
door kept the prison.
[7] And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. [8] The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” [9] And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. [10] When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
[11] When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” [12] Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. [13] When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. [14] When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
[15] They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” [16] But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.
[7] And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. [8] The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” [9] And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. [10] When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
[11] When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” [12] Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. [13] When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. [14] When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate.
[15] They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” [16] But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed.
Well,
I find the highlighted text humorous. Rhoda should have opened the
door, but instead she
thoughtlessly ran
and told a “ridiculous” story about Peter being outside. I
know this is true because in their disbelief; they called her crazy.
Their disbelief turned to amazement when they opened the door.
By
the way, Peter’s arrival was good news. Sometimes you just have to
look a little harder to see the punch line.
ps.
May God bless you this day in a special way – and may you laugh!