We might perceive scripture and the biblical characters within it as rather solemn. Today’s reflection looks at a funny (?) story about one of Christianity’s greatest heroes - an olden-day Dwayne Johnson - Simon ‘The Rock’ Peter.

Thanks to m01229 for the image, licensed under Creative Commons.

You might enjoy reading the story from Chapter 12 of the Acts of the Apostles aloud, as this can help bring out its farcical side!

The context is grave. In the years following Jesus’ death, the new movement of Christians faced persecution and horrific violence. King Herod and the Roman Empire were not to be scoffed at. But this story, as told in the New Testament, does provide some light relief.

Picture Peter, if you will, visited by an angel while in prison. (Yes, you heard it right). It might first make us smile to know that, facing probable execution, Peter is relaxed enough to have fallen asleep. And not just catnapping either - so deeply drowsy that he can be woken by an angel, follow it through a complex and miraculous escape heist, all in a form of sleepwalk and believing himself to be dreaming.

When he comes to his senses, outside the prison walls, he wanders off to tell his friends what has happened. They are praying fervently for his safety at the time. Rhoda, who answers his knock, is so excited that she forgets herself and just leaves him on the doorstep while she goes to tell her interceding companions! Does she first close the door on his face?!

Picture Peter again, now a bit miffed, standing on the doorstep hammering away while Rhoda’s friends deride her for being “out of her mind” to say he’s arrived. (We might wonder too at their low expectation of getting an answer to their prayers for his safety!)

Peter, finally admitted entry, raises a hand to silence his amazed supporters, summarises the great miracle that has occurred, barks an instruction at them and wanders back out again! In the snappy way the bible records these events, there is no time for chat about even the most bewildering of experiences.

We are then taken back to the commotion in Herod’s prisons, where Peter is missed. There is a return to the serious: the king sentences his prison guards to death. But there follows another strange and even darkly comic scene, in which Herod himself is abruptly struck down, ‘eaten by worms and died’ (in that order!) as a consequence of his arrogance and tyranny.

What do you make of all this? Does it feel okay to see the funny side? Are there other parts of the story that bring a smile to your face?

Serious stories do not need to be presented with solemnity: it is alright to laugh and smile about biblical narratives. This might even help us appreciate their profundity. Peter is, in many ways, an amusing character - like the rest of us! He was also The Rock on which Christ built the church. The earliest Christians got tired, did silly things, missed the most significant messages in the events of their lives, behaved in incomprehensible ways….

Violence and oppression are serious, can be recognised as such and resisted. And yet ….. even in the darkest of events and the bleakest of situations, shafts of light break in. Human beings can tell stories and find moments of laughter. This is a holy and rebellious gift.

Have you found much opportunity to laugh, have fun and be playful recently? If not, is there anything you can do to make space for that in the coming week?