GPS Guide – March 30, 2020

ANGER

Monday

Read: John 2:13-22

¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” ¹⁸ The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” ²⁰ They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. (NIV John 2:13-22)

Study: While anger is often viewed as a negative thing, there are plenty of examples in scripture where anger is righteous. In todays scripture, when Jesus showed up to the temple and found people taking advantage of people by selling sacrifices. It says he was “consumed” with “zeal” at the sight. This is not a story about Jesus getting unreasonably angry. Temple priests used to take advantage of poor people who did not have their own animals to sacrifice. They instituted a “paywall” where you had to pay for a dove or goat in order to have access to God. Jesus’ righteous anger drive this wall away. Is there injustice today that would justify your righteous anger?

Prayer: Lord, lead me in discerning what is justifiable anger. Let my heart break for the injustices around me. Amen.