" Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
He looked around at them in ANGER and, deeply DISTRESSED at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."
Mark 3:1-6
We all know that God is about love and the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all our hearts and then to love one another as we would love ourselves. However, I believe that righteous anger is necessary as well. The only other time I remember Jesus being angered was when he went to town on the goofs in the temple by flipping tables and literally throwing them out of the temple. Anger is an emotion that I feel quite often I just wish that the anger was directed toward unholiness and stubborness towards God, whether that unholiness is in myself or others. Christ knew when anger was appropriate and I pray that we can properly learn how to do the same.
-Pew
whoa. Those verses stuck out to me too - it's even more instructive when you consider that Jesus is omniscient, so he was angry and distressed even though he ALREADY KNEW the condition of their hearts.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jesus didn't just heal the guy and walk off, he told him to stand up in front of everybody so they'd witness his defiance of the Pharisees' legalism. Jesus hates that legalism.
Powell