I think there are multiple misconceptions of the true character of Jesus that our culture holds. One of those large misconceptions, I think, is that Jesus was a hippy-like, carefree, peaceful soul who carried baby sheep on His shoulders. If He had been your neighbor, you might think He was Mr. Rogers. "Won't you be my neighbor...today?"
Well you ask, why is your characterization true over someone else's?
It might not be. I'm a human and I make plenty of errors. But I will say that the characterization of Jesus that I have gathered in my mind I have sought to form from Scripture, what the Bible says. That may or may not count for something.
One of my favorite passages in all of Scripture is:
"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" (Matthew 21:12,13 NIV)
I don't think Jesus went up to a money changer "excuse me sir, you are defaming the Holy house of the Lord, I am angry at you, may I overturn your table?" NO! I think Jesus was enraged, full of zeal for the Lord and He was sick and tired of people using the Lord and His holiness for their own personal gain. I can see Jesus yelling for the zeal of His Father's house and flipping these tables over in a rage.
He busted out a can of holy whoop ass on those people.
And why do I think this gets at the real aspect of Jesus' character, one that might not be a common perception of Jesus in our culture today?
Right before this event in the temple, Scripture records:
"When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matt 21:10-11 NIV)
WHO IS THIS? they asked....
And then Jesus shows them. Not tells them by some speech or witty conversation. He physically drives out people who are defaming God. Now, naysayers might say, well...Jesus, He got angry. God wouldn't do that. If He were really God.
I don't think the act of getting angry is sinful. It's what you decide to do with that anger that falls into sin or holy territory. Using anger that is in line with the righteousness of God...I certainly don't think is sinful.
Immediately after Jesus' rage in the temple, holy rage mind you, Scripture records:
"The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant." (Matt 21:15-16 NIV)
Who would think to be compassionate and heal the destitute IMMEDIATELY AFTER an intense confrontation?
That would be Jesus of Nazareth, the Jesus I worship who is not like Mr. Rogers at all.
Hosanna to the Son of David!
3 comments:
always interesting...this idea of a 'roaring lamb.' Jesus never got angry when people hurt him, only when they were hurting other people or inhibiting someone's faith. our Savior truly showed love by fighting against injustice, callousness and greed on behalf of the weak.
don't forget though... Mr. Rogers used to be a military sniper.
and i've seen some pissed hippies.
haha- in all seriousness though, great thoughts.
personally, i'd rather err on the side of thinking of Jesus as not angry enough rather than too angry. i do think it is significant that we have just one example of Jesus getting angry...
but, we can't forget that one time, so i think your words are a great reminder that injustice and idolatry should anger us.
peace
Mr. Rogers used to be a military sniper? that's interesting. and kinda scary. he's that freaky kind of "nice guy on the surface, fullblown sniper on the inside..."
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