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

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Jesus Loves Little Children

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

The Passover celebration was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In 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. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a place of business for you have made it a den of thieves when it should be a house of prayer.”  His disciples remembered that it was written, “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 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. 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 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. 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: And "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, but be reminded to cool down and forgive those who offend you;  letting your aggravation 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.