JESUS WAS TOO. . . HE MADE A WHIP OUT OF CORDS

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.
So, he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:13-16)

When I introduced a series of writings about Jesus, calling it Jesus Up Close, I was hoping that we could find a way to come closer to him. He himself said, “Come to me.” (Matthew 11:28)

You might relate to Jesus in ways you hadn’t realized.

I’m reminded of times when I was red-hot angry over wrongs I had personally experienced, publishing my feelings online. My fellow Christians frown on such behavior, saying it’s sinful. “In your anger do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26) They say that God tells us to forgive and forget.

Should Jesus just have looked, forgiven, and walked away?

Some sins should make us angry—rightly so. We should be angry at what makes God angry.

Imagine if we turned a blind eye to all the wrongs in the world. Would we simply accept the inhumane way some people are treated? Would we accept discrimination and persecution, and do nothing to fight against it?

But the righteous anger displayed by Jesus in the scripture above showed a measure of grief as well..

Look at Mark 3:5, for example, where Jesus responded to the Pharisees and teachers of the law who were waiting to catch him healing someone on the Sabbath (which would be contrary to their laws.) He looked around at them in anger and yet deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts too.

And he said to the disabled man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. (Mark 3:5) Jesus was moved to act out of love for the man standing before him.

When we are angry but have no tears over the evil committed and the effects of that evil, are we showing a lack of love?

Righteous anger is necessary. It’s the response that followers of Christ need to have—anger towards wrong-doing, not only on their own behalf, but because of the many others who are affected.

When we’re truly angry, we are moved to act. We need to have a fire in us if we’re going to make a difference. How could Jesus have done all he did if he didn’t have such a fire in him? His response to injustice came from a heart that cared about those who were victims of that injustice. Out of love for them, he overcame the injustice.

Do you feel passionate about injustices you see in the world? Do you ever feel red-hot angry when you look at the wrong-doings you see? Jesus says, “Come to me. Join with me in making a better world possible. I’ll be right beside you, working with you.”

marja