Jesus at the Temple

What do you guys think of when you think of Jesus?

How many of you guys think its ok to be angry?

Every one is angry today.

If you don’t agree with some one they get mad. Look at the way the world response?

How many of you guys think that Christians should not be angry?

Do you think that Jesus got angry?

Tonight we are going to talk about Jesus at the temple and the angry he expressed.

John 2:

John 2:13–15 CSB

13 The Jewish Passover was near, and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables.

Now Think about this. Jesus was at the temple made a whip and was whipping people and moving people out of there.

This Doesn’t fit what the world normally things about Jesus.

Normally the world thinks about

Loving

Mercy

Kind

Gentle

These things all do show us who Jesus is. But there is more to him then that as well.

He showed all kinds of emotion not just the good ones.

Shortest verse in the bible is Jesus Wept.

And we know that Jesus showed anger as well. The story above shows it well. Later in his ministry he did it again. So this wasn’t just a one off.

But this anger is something we call holy Anger Or righteous anger.

But isn’t Anger Bad

But Jesus shows us that it is all right to be angry with the sinful things.

It says in

Ephesians 4:26 CSB

26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,

Couple more examples of Jesus and anger

Mark 3:1–6 CSB

1 Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a shriveled hand. 2 In order to accuse him, they were watching him closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.

Mark

i was raised that all anger was bad. Or sinful.

But Jesus shows us that it is all right to be angry with the sinful things.

It says in

Ephesians 4:26 CSB

26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,

The surprise of Jesus’ anger is that it frees us. It delivers us from evil. It enables us to let go of “the sin which so easily entangles us” (

Hebrews 12:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

). Jesus’ anger—godly anger—compels to hate our own sin. “Abhor what is evil,” is a New Testament commandment that too often is ignored and disobeyed ().

Jesus’ anger—godly anger—compels to hate our own sin. “Abhor what is evil,” is a New Testament commandment that too often is ignored and disobeyed

Romans 12:9 CSB

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.

).

Detest mean to strongly dislike something

Godly anger is spiritual energy that motivates us to Trust God more. IT helps us reach down into our own heart. To make us look at our real selves. To see the sin in our lifes.

Helps us stand up for those that can’t stand up for themselves! Helps us stop being enablers for other peoples sin.

Becoming angry with someone because of personal resentment or envy is sinful. But a holy anger, aroused by injustice or evil, and accompanied by a sincere desire to see God’s will performed, is both healthy and effective.

Can you guys think of stuff in todays world that we could have holy anger towards?

Abortion

Human Trafficing

People hurting people

Racism

Last thoughts

How to tell if its holy Anger

Actual Sin

The first mark of righteous anger is that it reacts against actual sin.

Something that goes against God

God’s Concerns

When we turn to the Bible to find accounts of righteous anger, we see that this kind of anger focuses on God and his kingdom, his rights, and his concerns, not on me, my life , my rights, and my concerns. It is the violation of God’s name or God’s fame that motivates anger, not my name and my fame.

Godly Expression

Finally, righteous anger is accompanied by other godly qualities and expresses itself in godly ways.

So not just anger, but wanting some one to turn back Jesus! To see some one restored to God.

It does not rant and rage, it does not swear and curse, it doesn’t make fun of people, it does make you pitty your self, it does not blow off people and storm away from them. Righteous anger is a controlled anger that moves toward good and specific ends.

Can you guys think of stuff in todays world that we could have holy anger towards?

Abortion

Human Trafficing

People hurting people

Racism

Eighteenth century theologian Jonathan Edwards said that human nature is “very lazy” unless it is “moved” by holy emotions such as anger. Holy emotions help us “move out” and not stay stuck.