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Illustration
(L,M,C)
We usually see meekness and anger as representing the opposite (contradictory?) sides of Jesus' character. But it may be that the meekness of Jesus and the anger of Jesus are really two expressions of the same thing.
The late William Barclay, a distinguished biblical scholar, defined meekness as the mean between too much anger and too little anger. To be meek, therefore, is to have just the right amount of anger and to express it toward an appropriate object, in the correct manner and at the proper time.
Jesus was angry at an appropriate object: those who belittled God by commercializing his "house of prayer." Jesus did not get angry at those who personally attacked him; he did get angry at those who attacked God.
Jesus was angry at the right time and in the right way: His anger was expressed immediately following the offense and in a manner that was effective.
Perhaps we need a new appreciation for the meekness (and the anger) of Jesus.
-- Randolph
We usually see meekness and anger as representing the opposite (contradictory?) sides of Jesus' character. But it may be that the meekness of Jesus and the anger of Jesus are really two expressions of the same thing.
The late William Barclay, a distinguished biblical scholar, defined meekness as the mean between too much anger and too little anger. To be meek, therefore, is to have just the right amount of anger and to express it toward an appropriate object, in the correct manner and at the proper time.
Jesus was angry at an appropriate object: those who belittled God by commercializing his "house of prayer." Jesus did not get angry at those who personally attacked him; he did get angry at those who attacked God.
Jesus was angry at the right time and in the right way: His anger was expressed immediately following the offense and in a manner that was effective.
Perhaps we need a new appreciation for the meekness (and the anger) of Jesus.
-- Randolph
