Who is Jesus? Part 18 "Jesus had Righteous Indignation"

Be Angry - - BUT Sin NOT

Who is Jesus? Part 18 "Jesus had Righteous Indignation"

The Passover celebration was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  As he entered the temple he found those who were selling oxen, sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there, and He became very angry. 
Making a whip of cords, Jesus drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.  Then he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a place of business; because you have made it a den of thieves.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “The Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Why would Jesus do all this damage? Was He concerned that God's house was being occupied with confusion of buying and selling animals instead of prayer and worship? Was it the fact that unfair business practices were taking advantage of those who came to sacrifice their animals? Or was it to reveal another truth that soon the entire temple would be destroyed by an enemy nation?

Almost in the same breath, Jesus announced "Destroy this temple and in three days I will rise it up again." He was not speaking of the Synagogue building, but of his body being the temple and rising again after being dead for three days.

On another occasion Jesus became extremely angry and displeased with those who refused to allow children to come to Him. Mark 10:13 tells us: People were bringing little children and even their babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant; and He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Absolutely I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Jesus is a protector of little children and on another occasion he declared with much aggravation and displeasure; Surely I say to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Who ever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And who ever receives one such little child in my name receives me.

But who ever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it would be better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. WOW Jesus you really do not like child abusers in any way, shape or form !!

Paul reminds us that we all do get angry at times, but we can learn to control our emotions and stop the furious rage in time before it does permanent damage. Paul reminds us to make things right with the person you are angry with, before the sun goes down.

The New Living Translation edited says Ephesians 4:26, 31 this way: "Don't sin by allowing anger to control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry; Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting, rudeness and slander be removed from you, along with all spite and meanness."

Yes, we do get angry at times. We get upset about those in Government who seem to be encouraging rioting and destruction in the name of getting even for an unfortunate error in the part of one policeman. We need to look closely at the persons in authority who seem to desire to destroy the history of America and tear down all that should be dear to us as American citizens.

Then there there are those closer to us who confront us personally and we don't like it, but let us be reminded to cool down and forgive those who offend you; Forgiveness will allow your aggravation to expire as the sun goes down. Remember God says, vengeance is mine and I will repay them, so it is best to allow God to fight for you.

It is not up to us to pay back others but to let it go in Jesus Name. Your job is to forgive them regardless if you think they deserve forgiveness.

It is a good thing to make allowances in your mind, for the person who has slighted you knowing that we all do things and say things we later regret.

How do we make allowances for others? Well it is called “self talk.” Tell yourself, “Maybe they had a bad day.” Perhaps they themselves are hurting and their problems are greater than mine. It is best to remember that we are all human. But for the grace of God, there go I. Pray for those who hurt you, that they will recover themselves out of their own anger, because holding anger is dangerous to our health.

God realizes we all make mistakes at times, and he has made a way for us to have a clean slate, by coming to him and requesting his forgiveness for ourselves. Sometimes we just need to say with our mouth: “Help me Jesus, because I need you Lord.”