I used to love watching one of the Seventies sci-fi shows which starred Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner. During the intro each week, he said an immortal line: “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” The show, of course, was The Incredible Hulk, and Dr. Banner was referring to his transformation into the green monster when he became enraged. I never cared much for the Hulk comic books, but I enjoyed the TV series. It was pure escapism for an hour and usually had some sort of moral message in each episode.
Today’s passage makes me wonder how much we would like it if we actually experienced Jesus being angry. He goes to the Temple to worship God, but He is enraged by the buyers and sellers who have turned the sacred sanctuary into a monstrous marketplace. The people and pilgrims who came for peace and prayer were faced with all sorts of chaos and commotion. Instead of listening for the voice of God, all that was heard were temple merchants selling their wares of sacrificial livestock, while moneychangers were fleecing worshipers with exorbitant rates for turning Greek denarii coins into Temple shekels.
Jesus was angry, not just because His Heavenly Father’s sacred place was being disrespected, but because of the injustice and corruption that was occurring. People of faith were harassing outsiders and the religious authorities turned a blind eye to all the wheeling and dealing that took place. Jesus may not have transformed into a giant green monster, but there is no doubt He was angry and the people around Him didn’t like it.
This also makes me wonder about what’s happening in some churches today. Christians are deliberately turning a blind eye to corrupt leaders whose demeanor, nastiness, and prejudice are completely the opposite from all that Jesus taught. They also excuse their idols and ply them with gifts of money, esteem, and power, not realizing that they’re just like those buyers and sellers of old whom Jesus angrily cast out of the Temple. Sadly, those Christians also don’t like being shown the truth when the tables of bullying and bigotry, cowardice and corruption are overturned; however, I guess they won’t like Jesus being angry with them either.
Point to ponder: What tables does Jesus have to overturn in my life?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we call ourselves Your followers but we cast aside our faith when
it’s inconvenient or when we are confronted with the truth about those we
blindly follow on Earth. Open our eyes to see what You see and protect us from false
prophets and corrupt leaders. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is a retired Scottish presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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