Cleaning the Temple

John 2:13-25

INTRODUCTION

When you think of Jesus, what words come to mind? Loving, peaceful, caring, gentle, compassionate, merciful, gracious… Each one of these words can certainly be ascribed to Jesus.

But, what about anger? Does that word make the list? Surely not! 

Let me ask, do you ever get angry?

BODY

In John 2:13-25 Jesus makes his way to the temple. What He finds prompts an outburst of anger. 

There were people selling oxen, sheep, doves, and moneychangers. His Father’s house had been turned into a supermarket.

Jesus is filled with righteous indignation. He makes a whip and drives them all out of the temple, He even pours out the containers with money, and flips the tables.

When was the last time you got angry? What caused it? Did you control it or did it control you?

The Bible teaches us to “be angry, and do not sin.”

There are times when anger is justifiable. Such as the occasion with Jesus. However, He did not sin. Why? Or How?

Jesus’ anger was brought about because of His zeal for His Father and the lack of respect that was being shown to Him. Yet, even in pouring out money and flipping tables, He was still in control of His emotions.

He did not let His anger control Him.

That’s the key.

There is a time and place for anger; however, if we are honest most of the things we become angry about are trivial.

• Someone pulls out in front of us, and we spout off all kinds of mean words.
• Someone is taking too long in the line in front of us.
• The wait at the doctor’s office was two hours.
• Let’s not even talk about going through a drive-thru and pulling out onto the road, only to find that the order is wrong.

Being angry and not sinning is about self-control. Jesus could have done far more than what He did, but He didn’t. He could have rained down fire from heaven. He could have wiped them all out with a word.

Controlling anger is about learning how to control self. It’s about learning patience. It’s about learning how to work through the emotion before the emotion works through you.

It’s about being like Jesus and knowing that anger can control you, but you have the ability to control it.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is loving, peaceful, caring, gentle, compassionate, merciful, and gracious…yet, His anger can be provoked.

Let us be careful lest we spark the righteous indignation of Jesus.

Let us be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (anger).

One day we will stand before Him as our judge, but thanks be to God, His justice is tempered with mercy, lest we really get what we deserve.