Film Friday The new 2025 remake of the comedy The Naked Gun continues in the same vein as the films from the 1980s & 90s. The humour is slapstick and zany, and the jokes come thick and fast. So much so that you can’t see all the comedy in one sitting. Peopled do daft things in the background which you can easily miss on first viewing. The character of Frank Drebin junior often says things which are comedic with a straight face, so some of the jokes can easily pass us by.
Humour is powerful but can also be divisive. I wonder what makes you laugh. My go-to pick me up laughter-lift is Alan Partridge, he never fails to make me laugh out loud. But I’m acutely aware that not everyone finds his character funny. I’ve heard it said the reason Christmas cracker jokes are so bad is that this unites us as we all groan together.
Jesus used humour in his parables – and his stories were full of layers of meaning – we don’t get the jokes because we are not of that 1st century culture. A man went to the doctor and said, ‘I keep thinking I’m Tom Jones.’ And the doctor replied, ‘It’s not unusual!’ Now if you’d have told that joke to Simon Peter, or Mary and Martha they’d have looked at you blankly. They wouldn’t get the comedic references at all. I recently finished a book on the Parables of Jesus, unpacking many of his stories in a hopefully accessible and entertaining way.
When Jesus told his story of a man inviting folks to his banquet, in Luke 15 v 16-24, he said that people used excuses to stay away. And these excuses would make his audience laugh. ‘I’ve bought a field and need to look at it.’ ‘I’ve bought an ox and need to check it out now.’ They said, and people would have laughed. In that culture no one would buy a field or livestock without FIRST going to see it. And so the jokes loosen up the audience so they are open to receive the message about not staying away from the kingdom party Jesus is offering. Jesus was master communicator, and still is. He will use all kinds of things to nudge and woo us towards his ways and his life. So watch out today for signs of his kingdom coming to you through an unexpected side door.
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