In my last post I suggested that it is possible and even likely that Jesus was not acting in anger when he cleared the temple. But I do not suggest that Jesus was never angry. He was, at least once. And what did Jesus’ anger look like?

I did a search of the ESV Bible and even though the Gospels are replete with passages where people mistreated and sinned against Jesus, I can see only one passage that describes him as angry:

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (Mark 3:1-6, ESV)

Yes, Jesus, Son of God, Son of Man, Savior, King of Kings was at least once angry at a group of humans. And what did he do with that anger? He healed someone.

He was not destructive, he was compassionate. That’s how he acted out his anger. And how ironic that the Pharisees’ response was to plan his destruction.

Jesus was angry. He did not act in anger. Even though there were those to whom it was due. Dads, go therefore and do likewise to your children and your wife.

Don’t be like the Pharisees, be like Jesus.

Next, the “Be Angry” passages.

Click here to see the list of posts in this series.

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