Jesus, angry?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for the fresh Word that You offer to us every day.  It's so awesome to receive holy revelation that is consistently relevant.  LORD, we pray that Your Word is taught correctly, and by the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times.  That we adhere to Your Word responsibly at all times.  Please forgive us, if we have ever led any one in the wrong direction; and correct us, in order to bring us collectively to the right path towards You.  For I pray that our eyes all focus on Jesus at all times, and let Your Glory overtake this earth.  In the mighty Name of Jesus.  Amen.


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JESUS' MINISTRY IN JERUSALEM

Mark 11:15 -19 (NKJV)

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

¹⁵ So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. ¹⁶ And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. ¹⁷ Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
¹⁸ And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. ¹⁹ When evening had come, He went out of the city.

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I challenge you to read these verses in every version/translation of the Bible.  Why?  Because many will teach a lesson on these verses and tell you that Jesus was angry; but as you begin to engross yourself in the Word, you will observe that the Bible is real clear to express what Jesus is feeling, when He is feeling it; and here "anger" is never written.   Go a little bit deeper and read the other Gospels; Matthew (12:12-17), and Luke (19:45-48), not one of them record that Jesus was angry; and John doesn't even mention this occurrence. 

You or I would maybe get angry if we saw all of this religious and ungodly activity going on in God's House; but Jesus was simply focused on taking care of His Father's business.  Jesus took a stand for God's Word; and He didn't have to be angry or stirred by anger to do this.  Jesus saw all kinds of wrong operating in His Father's house; and instead of passively allowing it to continue; He took a strong stand not only againstit - but took action in removing it.

As believers, we don't have to get angry - but we should be moved to bring God's light to unrighteousness, trying to pass itself as righteous.  Jesus took a stand that not only got people's attention; but also, didn't turn the people away.  Verse 17 tells us, he began to teach them, giving them the TRUTH, removing the lies, deceit, injustice and darkness of sin.

There are so many lies within ourselves and around us.  It's time to take a stand and clear all of this mess out.  Seriously, we should be uncomfortable in the unrighteousness that simply chills with us each and every day.  Whether it's our own thoughts and actions, or those of other people; we need to follow Jesus' example and make it clear that these things do not honor God and are not of God.  But the only way to bring the Truth is to know the Truth; so we have to know this WORD!   So that once we clear, we can teach and fill it back up with God's Truth.

As we take our stands, we again need to remember how Jesus did it.  His actions got people to listen;, the only ones recorded in the Bible in turning away from Jesus, were the religious leaders who waited to kill Him for killing their profitable religious game.  So be conscious of your actions; let them emphasize moving people to listen; not turning them away.  Enlighten; don't destroy - and do all of this without compromising God's Word.  Unfortunately, believers care but are often passive about these important issues, or they go to the other side of the spectrum and begin to operate in hate, while contradictorily "representing" God's Kingdom; and then, many don't care too much about God's justice at all, they are overly concern with personal insults and petty irritations.

First, let's begin to STOP accepting the compromises.  Just because it's done; does not make it OK nor right.  Take a stand and be ALL IN for God.  Make sure your "stand" is directed toward the right issues, and handled by the leading of the Holy Spirit, in a matter worthy of God.  God is glorified when His children don't only seek for Him to have their backs; but live to have His "back" as well. 

It's time to pray...