The thud of bull hooves rumbles across the square. Swirls of dust rise into the air. Sheep bleat, doves flap their wings, and traders yell. “Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” He screams. The Prince of Peace is raising a ruckus.
He wields the cords and flips the tables (Matthew 21:12); the crowds part like the Red Sea. Mothers clutch their crying children. A cage overturns and doves fly free—an offering sent heavenward by a whip-swinging Savior.
Sometimes we get Jesus wrong. We think of a soft, serene Savior (“the poor baby awakes”), a meek and mild Nazarene (“no crying he makes”), and we forget that some in Jesus’ time thought He was John the Baptist or Elijah returned from death (Mark 8:28). The Son of God wasn’t thought of as some gentle guru of love, peace, and harmony. He was likened to a wild, thunderous, locust-eating prophet.
Surely Jesus was a teacher of love. His clearing of the Temple was no anti-business protest. The traders had set up shop in the Temple’s Outer Court—the only place where women and God-fearing Gentiles could worship. That act disrespected both God and worshiper; Jesus’ response was a passionate portrayal of love for both. And surely Jesus was a prophet of peace—teaching the turning of cheeks and the loving of enemies. But that didn’t negate His wrathful confronting of error. As Dorothy Sayers has said, “Whatever His peace was, it was not the peace of an amiable indifference.”
No, Jesus could be a powerful, angry, passionate personality—the only kind worthy of our full allegiance and trust. For what Savior would wink at greed and injustice? And what God could be worshiped who showed “amiable indifference” to the wronged?
More:
• Luke 11:37-46
• Luke 13:14-16
Next:
What’s the difference between Jesus’ anger and the anger you often see in yourself? What does He get angry about? How should you reflect the same spirit?
Gary4orphans on January 27, 2010 at 9:03 am
How often we fail to follow our Lord’s example of standing up against what we know is wrong. Evolution is taught in our schools as a religion and we Christians largely remain silent. We go along with the LIE of “separation of church and state” when that is NOT part of the First Amendment but an out of context quote from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to a CHURCH about a no govenrment approved or “state” religion. We elect people to office who openly support abortion. The list of things we Christians allow that we shouldn’t is long and shameful. Let us learn from our Savior that love does not mean accepting bad behavior in silence. Let us be willing to take a Godly stand and speak up when and where we should. If we don’t, who will? Let us be bolder witnesses of the truth of God and step out of our comfort zones when the opportunity arises. We can’t persuade all but maybe we can persuade ONE.
aloeweh on January 27, 2010 at 3:23 pm
We should remember one thing…Just because Jesus got angry and took action, doesn’t mean we could do the same. Jesus had every right in being angry, and he had every right to take action, because He was and is SINLESS. We, on the other hand, are not the same. Before we do anything in His name, make sure we’re not trying to do God’s work for him. If not, we being doing what the crusaders did in the past. God doesn’t need defending…He can take care of Himself. Our job isn’t to defend Him, it’s to share His gospel…to tell the truth in love and gentleness.
bethanyF on January 27, 2010 at 9:58 am
Sometimes I get angry at work when I get blamed for things that aren’t totally my fault. Jesus got mad when people used God’s house as a jamboree. I don’t want to get angry at the wrong things. I will pray that God will give me wisdom. It is hard sometimes not to get enraged at certain things. I pray that God will give me grace and wisdom.
Danya on January 27, 2010 at 11:00 am
For bethanyF. It’s okay to get angry, anger in itself is not a sin, it’s what you do when you are angry that’s important. Remember, the scriptures say “In your anger, do not sin.” There is justifiable anger, everyone gets angry at some point, you are not alone.
Pray that God helps you to control what you get angry about. If you really think about it, sometimes things aren’t even worth getting angry over. Let things roll off your back, don’t even waste your energy and don’t let anyone steal your joy!
Chileshe on January 27, 2010 at 11:20 am
It’s more like the opposite case of sparing the rod and spoiling the child, huh? Also think Prov 10: 17.
We are continually losing our ground as christians in the name of tolerance. It is right to respect other people’s views but at some point the line has to be drawn. The scrapping or banning of Christian literature in public places or indeed the spreading of the gospel, is going way too far!! When we are constantly reminded to be meek, slow to anger, etc, it definitely does not mean we have to sit idly by while our christian aspirations and way of life are slowly being turned into something to be abhorred or promoted in public or other places we dim fit except our designated places of worship. Even the churches are gradually being turned into social meeting places or venues at which to be seen, keeping up appearances!! Go, Jesus, go!!
Stay blessed and ask the Lord for “voices”.
shayskin on January 27, 2010 at 11:25 am
Let the Lord get the glory
God sent his son so that we can have everlasting life Amen
Wonderful passage
Thank be to God