Mark 11:12-19
Jesus Clears the Temple

Many of us have a picture of Jesus as calm, compassionate, and winsome. And he was--he must have been to have attracted so many people to himself in such a hostile world. And he is today--a refuge for us in a climate of turmoil and ungodliness.

But here is a picture of an angry Jesus. First, he seems angry at the fig tree (we'll read more about that tomorrow and see it as a picture of something else). But he displays what seems to be an uncharacteristic anger as he comes to the temple and overturns the tables of the money changers. Quoting Scripture in verse 17, he declares, "My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations but you have made it a den of robbers." (Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11)

There are times when righteous anger is appropriate and even necessary. We are to be angry at sin and its destruction in the world, yet compassionate toward the sinner, for we are all sinners. I need to look at the sin in my life and ask God to sweep it clean, just as Jesus cleared out the money changers. Then I can be a better witness to the world, displaying his purity and love.

- posted by Suzi @ 7:05 AM