After Jesus’
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem we read about Him cleansing the Temple.
So
Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around
carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he
returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples. ... When they arrived back in
Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying
and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money
changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from
using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, "The Scriptures
declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,' but you
have turned it into a den of thieves." When the leading priests and
teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to
kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his
teaching. Mark 11:11,
15-18
 |
| A donkey in Jerusalem. |
Jesus arrived
in Jerusalem riding a donkey and a parade spontaneously occurred with people spreading palm
branches and then their garments on the road ahead of Him. We know this as His Triumphal
Entry and celebrate it as Palm Sunday. What happens after that? He goes to the
Temple, looks around and sees what is happening with the money changers and
profiteers who are selling animals for sacrifice. But it is late in the
afternoon…so He leaves and goes out Bethany—probably to the home of Mary,
Martha and Lazarus. When He comes back the next morning He goes to the Temple
and drives out those money changers. Look at what happened. He knocked over the tables of the money changers
and the chairs of those selling doves…. Does that look like a person filled
with anger…righteous anger? Was Jesus justified in feeling anger towards those
people? What do you think? I say—YES. The Temple was being used by a bunch of
thieves. That was His Father’s house. Remember how He went there when He was
twelve years old…and taught. Now here He was again—wanting to teach in the
Temple—but finding it full of unrighteous people out to make a denarius for
themselves. He had all night to stew about what was going on there. Does that
make Him “slow to get angry”?
The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow
to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 145:8
I’ve Irish heritage—so there is nothing
slow about the angry side of my temperament. God has worked on me for many
years—taming my hot head. I am grateful that I don’t get angry and blow up like
I did when I was younger. Poof! Was I a
fire-breathing dragon? God has been merciful to me, molding me to be a more
compassionate person. His love never
fails. Never fails to amaze me.
God must not be Irish since He is slow to anger. When He renewed His
covenant with Moses He told Moses that He was slow to anger…
The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling
out, "Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to
anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness." Exodus 34:6.
It takes compassion and mercy to not get
angry…and the Lord had plenty of reason to be angry with those Israelites as
Moses was leading them from Egypt to the Promised Land. Later in Numbers 14 it
is recorded that God was ready to wipe out the Israelites for being such a
disobedient, rebellious bunch of people, but Moses took their defense, asking
God to pardon them. Moses repeats God’s declaration that He is slow to anger
and abundant in lovingkindness. God is awesome and certainly treated the
Israelites and us far better than we deserve. He is gracious and loving beyond
measure. Those qualities could be contributing factors in His slow to anger
temperament. When there is deep love, compassion and mercy, anger doesn’t
happen so quickly.
I perceive anger as a basic human emotion
that often occurs when personal boundaries are crossed or expectations are not
met. The degree to which a person experiences the anger may be dependent on
their past experiences, level of irritation, or even current health issues. God
is our best example in how to deal with anger. Be slow—think things through.
Listen to council of wise people—of course you have to choose to associate with
wise people, not jerks. Have compassion and mercy for others—not insisting on
your own way. Your idea may seem best to you—but that doesn’t mean that it is
right for everyone. Humbling thought.
Prayer ~ Thank You, Lord for being merciful
and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are
the best. Change me from a prickly pear cactus into a beautiful rose…with only
a few protective thorns. Thank you for examples in my life of beautiful roses…like
dear Flo. Please continue to bless her…and bless us through her—for she is
gracious and filled with unfailing love from You.
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles
5
© 2018 Text and
photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
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