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

 

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

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem because the Passover was at hand.  You will remember the Passover was the celebration of the time the death angel passed over each Israelite home; NOT taking the first born child. This was because each family had followed the instructions of Moses to slay a lamb, and sprinkle the blood on the door posts and over the door. When the death angel saw the blood he would pass over that home and not slay the oldest child. This celebration was and still is important to the Jewish Nation.

As Jesus entered the temple he found a large group of noisy business people who were selling oxen, sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. Now Jesus became very angry.  Some would call his anger, Righteous Indignation. 

Making a whip of cords, Jesus drove them all out of the temple, along with the sheep and oxen. Next Jesus poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.  Then he told those who sold the pigeons, that he would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?  But you have made it ‘a den of thieves.

 His disciples remembered that it was so written, and that “The Zeal for your house will consume me.”

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard about this display of righteous indignation, and they began looking for a way to kill Jesus, but they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Why would Jesus do all this damage? Was He concerned that God's house was being occupied with all the confusion of buying and selling animals instead of prayer and worship?

Was it the fact that unfair business practices by those selling the sheep and oxen, were taking advantage of those who came to sacrifice an animal? 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 of Him rising again after being dead for three days.

On another occasion Jesus became extremely angry and displeased with His own disciples and others 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 He loves the babies and all the children. 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 on the part of some person or persons. 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. Take note, and use your voting privilege wisely.

Then there there are those closer to home who confront us personally and we don't like it. However, 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 take revenge, and we must not pay back others, but we are - - to let it go in Jesus Name. Your job is to forgive them regardless if you think they deserve your 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. That includes you and me.

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. Pray 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: “Forgive me Jesus, and Help me Jesus to do better in the next go round, because I certainly need you Lord.”