In class this morning I yelled a deep bellowing scream that was the loudest thing ever to leave my mouth. It was so loud that classrooms beside and below us heard it and it gave them pause. It was so loud that one of our police officers at church came upstairs to "check things out." In fact, I not only scared a classroom full of students, but honestly I scared myself. I horridly shouted the word, "ANGRY!!!" I didn't do it out of frustration or because the class wasn't listening, but rather because I didn't have a bullwhip. Part of the lesson this morning was on Jesus cleansing the temple in John 2. It is hard to calmly share the story of Jesus' anger at how his Father was being treated. We thought having a bullwhip cracking while I told the story would at least make it somewhat real. But evidently it is difficult to find one in West Texas. However, I would not trade the whip for the eyes and posture of these students after my roar of ANGRY!!! It made it real...so real that I had to make a joke before tears and tension got the best of us. And my whole point...Jesus got angry!
We have tried share about a God of love with a caring, compassionate, cuddly Jesus. In reality, Jesus got frustrated and angry. He did not allow it to overcome him and become a sin, but he did use the passion God gave him to defend the throne of heaven from trivial abuse. People had set up shop in God's house, pushed Him out, and made their dwelling for their own desires and benefit. It is worse than the guest who overstays their welcome. It is more like a malicious squatter who comes into your living room kidnaps your couch and TV and refuses to leave. They push you and your family out of the house and claim it as their own. Jesus had, had enough! He doesn't question them, he doesn't lecture them, he doesn't petition them, he simply takes the time to create a whip out of chords and begins to drive out the sheep and cattle, then he progresses to the furniture and thrusting it all about, and then his progression and anger turn towards the people as he commands them to get their merchandise out of his Father's house. Jesus was angry and he makes a powerful statement that worship of God and having your identity in Him alone is worth getting angry over.
There is a time to have cuddly Jesus.
There is also a time to have angry Jesus and fight for what counts.
I wish that I never have to scream that loud again. But then again, there are some injustices in our world that Jesus is wanting his followers to create a whip and a roar and fight for God, His ways, and His glory!
We have tried share about a God of love with a caring, compassionate, cuddly Jesus. In reality, Jesus got frustrated and angry. He did not allow it to overcome him and become a sin, but he did use the passion God gave him to defend the throne of heaven from trivial abuse. People had set up shop in God's house, pushed Him out, and made their dwelling for their own desires and benefit. It is worse than the guest who overstays their welcome. It is more like a malicious squatter who comes into your living room kidnaps your couch and TV and refuses to leave. They push you and your family out of the house and claim it as their own. Jesus had, had enough! He doesn't question them, he doesn't lecture them, he doesn't petition them, he simply takes the time to create a whip out of chords and begins to drive out the sheep and cattle, then he progresses to the furniture and thrusting it all about, and then his progression and anger turn towards the people as he commands them to get their merchandise out of his Father's house. Jesus was angry and he makes a powerful statement that worship of God and having your identity in Him alone is worth getting angry over.
There is a time to have cuddly Jesus.
There is also a time to have angry Jesus and fight for what counts.
I wish that I never have to scream that loud again. But then again, there are some injustices in our world that Jesus is wanting his followers to create a whip and a roar and fight for God, His ways, and His glory!
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