What Made Jesus Angry

Hello everyone! Here we are starting another week! March is soon gone too. Are we a week closer to our Savior and to eternity? If we feel we are not progressing towards that then it is time we do something different and drastic at that. This world cannot last much longer! Things are going really bad out there. A living connection with our Savior is our only safeguard in this day of peril. May that be our daily priority!

Instead of continuing on the Gold in the Fire we decided to send this article by Scott Griswold for now. We will continue Gold in the Fire later. Scott Griswold is the man who owns this house that we are temporarily living in right now. He and his wife and 3 children are in Thailand right now as missionaries. He is the director of the Buddhist Study Center in Bangkok, Thailand. His article gave us some good insights so we decided to pass it on to everyone. God bless us all! James and Daryl, Paul, Janna, Andrew and Jachin

WHAT MADE JESUS ANGRY

A look at the impediments we place in the way of people seeking God.

Can you picture Jesus really angry? It’s pretty hard isn’t it? We think of Him as being patient with our mistakes. Long-suffering with our repeated failures. And with His arms open for us prodigals. So what could possibly get Him good and mad?

I can think of only one situation in His earthly ministry in which Jesus was so upset that He knocked over tables and dumped things on the ground. Of all places, it happened at “church.” I refer, of course, to the cleansing of the Temple.

What made Him do it? And could there be something today that would make Him just as angry? Let’s revisit that day and see.

From Bedlam to Peace

Cows, sheep and doves harmonize to provide special music. Money changers add their staccatoed beat. Passover’s weary pilgrims find themselves losing money at every turn. Their very best animals are pronounced unfit. Vainly, they haggle, then reach deep to pay the price of a Temple-approved lamb. Their money has to be changed. It’s common, you see-too dirty to be used to buy something so pure. Of course, this service also has its price.

It would have been easy to get discouraged, maybe even disgusted, and go home. But the journey had been so long. And wasn’t this the only road to the blessing?To salvation?

In the midst of the bedlam and frustration, a cry rings out: “Is it not written: “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11: 17)

It’s Jesus! For a moment the ever gentle Lamb roars like a lion. Why?

Because pickpockets are pilfering the riches of God’s grace. Thieves disguised as dignitaries have intercepted the King’s shipment of presents for the entire kingdom. They are profiting by selling His gifts through illicit trading. No wonder Jesus roars, He’s the son of the gracious King.

Now He stands in the house of prayer. Was somebody trying to pray? In this noise? Jesus takes swift and stunning action to quiet down. Four-legged creatures escape down the sidewalks, with two-legged animals following closely behind. Doves fly into the trees, cooing their approval.

Into the sudden vacuum quietly slips prayer. The blind and the lame request healing. The children gleefully praise their Friend.

It’s exactly what Jesus and His Father wanted. A house of prayer, of friendship. A place to connect with God, to know and be known by love. So why was Jesus angry? Because religion was being used as a barrier to keep people from a relationship with God. That’s a good reason. I’m glad He cares enough about being close to us that He’d get upset and do something about it.

But was that all Jesus was angry about-salvation for sale with no room for God? That would be enough, I think. Yet there was another issue burning in His heart. Hear His words again: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

All nations?

Well, of course. He is the Creator of all life, the Father of every tribe and tongue. Surely Israel recognizes their mission to share God’s glory with the nations. After all it isn’t called the Court of the Gentiles for nothing.

The Court of the Gentiles. This beautiful (albeit noisy, corrupt and greed-filled) place is the only spot in which the nations dare set foot to catch a glimpse of the Father. The rest of the Temple is off-limits. No wonder Jesus cleans house. A Lamb came to take away the sins of the world, to be a Shekinah for the Gentiles and a sanctuary for all.

Now what about us, His church-which He also called a temple ( I Cor. 3:16)? Might Jesus get upset again today were to He to pay us a visit? If so, would it be for the same things? Where might He like to do some cleansing today?

Might We Today Be Guilty?

Consider the following:

First, are we in any way sheep sellers and money changers? Have we somehow hidden the good news of God’s free gift? Have we met pilgrims in the foyer with a critical eye? Has our emphasis on lawkeeping and lifestyle convinced others they must buy the Lamb’s affection with good works? Let’s stop the thieving. God is a free forgiver! If we clear out of the way and give Jesus the floor, He will bring His healing love. Those who are blind or lame will once again rejoice in our churches. They will find God.

Second, have we allowed the noise of our religion to get the in the way of a relationship with the Father of the house? Too often we go to church, sing all the songs, pray, give, and hear another sermon without ever meeting God. Have you felt that? Habit and duty drive us while Jesus wants to draw us. It’s to be a house or prayer-a place to connect deeply with God. Then why is it so hard?

Could it be the clatter of busyness? We overload ourselves at work and at home, then add to the pile at church: a class to teach, a committee to attend, a social, and a seminar, too. We slavishly serve the King while He sadly stands by hoping to catch our eye and spend a moment in intimate fellowship with us. How long has it been since you talked with your Friend?

Religion is noisy in less attractive ways, too. Repetitive, boring church services make it terribly difficult to hear the message of good news. Long faces don’t communicate joy. Two-faced living doesn’t uplift reliable truth. Pointed fingers don’t share love. Instead, hearts are broken.

Yes, religion itself can sound like mooing cows and bleating sheep. Who wants to worship in a barn? But Jesus, who was born into a world of legalistic and formal religion, is willing to clean our hearts and our churches. Every day His quiet voice calls us to slow down and spend some time with Him. If we will, our lame and blind lives will come alive with energy and color. We will shout with joy like children.

(To be concluded next time)

Third, we are to be a house of prayer for all nations. Jesus was especially upset that the one place for the Gentiles to learn about God had been ransacked. Today He searches our pews and our hearts for the unreached nationalities of the world. Jesus’ highest priority is the salvation of every kindred, tribe, and tongue. His great commission called for it (Matt. 28:18-20). His first angel’s message shouts it (Rev. 14: 6, 7). His declaration of it as the final sign before His coming ensures it (Matt. 24:14). At work, at home, in our pocketbooks, and in our churches we are to make room for the lost.

But what are we doing? God brought the unreached world to our doorstep, and we didn’t even notice. Here in the United States. For example, we have some 4 million Hindus and Buddhists, 4.5 million Muslims, and 6 million Jews. Have we learned enough about them to share the gospel with even one of these groups?

More than 2 million people move into the United States every year. Have those of us who live here befriended and helped them during their tough months of transition? Or have we frustrated at their lack of English skills?

Add to that more than 600,000 international students who study in the country every year. They come from 188 different nations, 43 of which we can’t even enter as missionaries. They are the cream of the crop who will return to their countries and take up important posts in government, education, and business. Unfortunately, 70 percent of international students never get invited into an American home, let alone learn the good news about their Savior.

Might Jesus be upset? Might not His love for the unreached people be so great that He’s angry with us? Have we let the busy clatter of our religion drown out the heart cry of the nations? And the heart cry of Jesus Himself?

Where to From Here?

What can we do? A hundred things, perhaps, but let’s start with three.

1. Let’s repent. We can tell Jesus how sorry we are for neglecting the very ones He is concerned over. Let’s plead for Him to open our eyes to the lost all around us, to see where He is already working and longing for someone to join Him. Let’s take hold of the promise of the Holy Spirit to empower us to share His love.

2. Let’s look and listen. We can start looking around to see what ethnic groups are near us. We can make new friends, asking questions about their family traditions, their food, their religion. We can read up on ways to share our faith effectively and sensitively with those with other beliefs.

3. Let’s serve in love. We can find a need and fill it. We can be a friend at work to those no one befriends because of language or cultural differences. We can tutor English for an hour a week. We can offer someone a ride to the immigration office to help fill out forms. We can invite international students to our home for Thanksgiving dinner. We can find and share pamphlets and lessons in other languages. We can open our homes to a foreign exchange student for a year. We can even facilitate planting a new church that speaks the language of an unreached group in our community.

Yes indeed, we can join Jesus as He cleanses our temple. The Lion roars. But it’s only because the Lamb wants to be with His friends.

By: Scott Griswold

As the Lord gives us more insight on this subject we find that Christ had to cleanse the temple twice. Once at the beginning of His ministry and again at the close of His ministry. The Jews were so shut in with the keeping of the truths that they failed to share it with others. They really believed that the Gentiles do not share the same gospel privileges that they had.

The truth is that they were supposed to be a “nation of priests”, (the whole nation) not to minister to each other, but to minister to the other nations around them. We all know this did not happen. In fact, children were not even welcomed in the precincts of the temple for fear that they will pollute the temple with their noises and dirty feet while all the while they sold and bought dirty and noisy animals there.

Instead of having a “whole nation of priests” to bless others Jesus had to use 12 disciples. They were not perfect people, in fact, all the way until the death of Christ they were unconverted. We read about the disputings among themselves, their unbelief, their lack of love and sympathy for the erring even to the point of wanting to bring down fire from heaven to consume the rejecters of Jesus. One of the disciples was proud, one was fiery and zealous, another doubtful, yet another a traitor and a thief. They all did not comprehend Jesus mission until after Jesus’ death. Yet Christ worked in and through them throughout His ministry. He showed them love without an if, He encouraged them and showed them what they can become in Him. Christ’s love melted them and they grew, learned and became converted. After Jesus’death, these 12 humbled and converted disciples evangelized the whole world with power!

How are we doing? Have we fallen under the trap just like the Jews? We are told that everyone who receives the light is called forth to share the light. Not everybody is called to preach but we are told that everyone is called to be a missionary. The gospel commission is given to every believer. Have we acted out as missionaries for Christ this week? Did the people we associated with this week see Jesus in us? How about our family? Did they see a revelation of Jesus Christ in us behind closed doors? We all need to answer these questions honestly before the Lord.

“Comparatively little missionary work is done, and what is the result? The truths that Christ gave are not taught. Many of God’s people are not growing in grace. Many are in an unpleasant, complaining frame of mind. Those who are not helping others to see the importance of the truth for this time must feel dissatisfied with themselves. Satan takes advantage of this feature in their experience and leads them to criticize and find fault. If they were busily engaged in seeking to know and do the will of God they would feel such a burden for perishing souls, such an unrest of mind, that they could not be restrained from fulfilling the commission: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15. 9 Testimonies p. 39

The Lord is not dependent on us to reach the lost. He could very well use the heavenly agencies yet He invites us and wants us to cooperate with Him in this work. Here is why:

“My brethren and sisters, take an active part in the work of soulsaving. This work will give life and vigor to the mental and spiritual powers. Light from Christ will shine into the mind. The Savior will abide in your hearts, and in His light you will see light.” 9 Testimonies p. 41.

“As you live His life, showing self sacrifice at every step, constantly revealing a stronger sympathy for those in need of help, you will gain victory after victory. Day by day you will learn better how to conquer self and how to strengthen your weak points of character. The Lord Jesus will be your light, your strength, your crown of rejoicing, because you yield your will to do His will. 7 Testimonies p. 49

The Lord wants us to take part in His work not because He needs us but because He sees that we need it. As we impart then we receive more. When we minister to those that are in need physically, mentally or spiritually our own needs will also be supplied. When we comfort those who are struggling we are also helped in our own struggles. Thus we will “gain victory after victory, conquer self and strengthen the weak points in our characters.”

Let us pray that God will indeed cleanse our temple that we may be “a house of prayer for all nations”, so that the children can come to us with praises, so that the blind, the lame, the sick and suffering and everyone who is in need can come to us for healing. In this work God’s promise is “I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” May God bless us all this Sabbath!

In Christ love,

James and Daryl
Paul, Janna, Andrew and Jachin