It may seem strange to include Jesus and anger in the same sentence, much less an entire article dedicated to learning something about His anger. But perhaps our squeamishness at the idea of Jesus being angry is due to our tendency to view Him through a modern lens. When we think about anger in our culture, we usually think about someone who is out of control, who launches into a fit of rage. Cursing, being destructive, and seeking vengeance are all aspects of anger that our world promotes. So, many people struggle to understand how Jesus could have ever been angry–surely that is at odds with everything about Him. But the truth is that the Bible does not condemn all anger (Eph. 4:26), and indeed Jesus did become angry on several occasions. So, it behooves us then to consider His anger and what we can learn from it.
First, consider a few occasions of Jesus’ anger. In Mark 3:1-5 Jesus entered into the synagogue where there was a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees watched Him closely, looking for an opportunity to find occasion against Him. Jesus challenged their hypocritical thinking with a question which they would not answer (v. 4) and in their silence, Jesus “looked around them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts.” Mark records another occasion for us, in Mark 10:13-16. The disciples rebuked (corrective rebuke, or censure) those who brought little children to the Lord and when Jesus saw it “He was greatly displeased” (Mark 10:14). The term translated, “greatly displeased,” is one that more accurately translated means “to arouse to anger,” or, “to be indignant.” One of the more well-known instances of Jesus’ anger is found in John 2:13-17, when during Passover, Jesus made a whip of cords and drove the money changers our of the temple. Though the word “anger” is not explicitly used in the context, the actions certainly indicate His emotion.
In each of these contexts the two important questions to ask are “why?” and “How?” What was it that motivated the anger of our Lord and what did He do about it? How did he express His anger? In Mark 3:5 it was the hardness of the Pharisee’s heart–their hypocrisy–that angered Him. In Mark 10 it was the disciples’ action as gatekeepers and rejection of the helpless, vulnerable, and powerless that angered Him. In John 2 Jesus took exception to the abuse of God’s house–“Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up” (John 2:16-17). Notice that in every case the Lord handled His anger perfectly. There were no temper tantrums or emotional reactions. He never lost control in a fit of rage. His words and reactions were measured and intentional. Even in the case of the money changers in the temple, we find no evidence of the Lord losing control. His action may have been forceful and demonstrative but that does not make it sinful. After all, one does not clear out a large gathering of people and livestock with a whisper.
As in everything, Jesus was perfect and holy in His anger. His was not emotional, but judicial. He was the perfect demonstration of Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:26–47: “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” It is not sinful to be angry, but it is sinful to be angry for the wrong reasons and to deal with anger in the wrong way. Unlike Cain who burned with anger because his offering was not accepted (1 John 3:11-12), we must be careful to control our anger. Uncontrolled and unresolved anger grows into wrath and bitterness and all manner of sinfulness (Eph. 4:32). As we seek to apply the beauty of Jesus to our lives, His anger ought to be a top priority. Let us be angry in the right way and for the right reasons.