Before the days of computer animation and incredible special effects, there was the TV show from the 1970’s, The Incredible Hulk. Instead of the computer generated Hulk we see in movies today, there was Bruce Banner (played by Bill Bixby). Due to an experiment gone wrong, his anger would trigger a change into the green, muscle-bound Hulk (played by Lou Ferrigno). When he knew things were heading that direction, he would warn people not to make him angry and say, “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” Sometimes his anger was triggered by an injustice. Often it was influenced by with the actions of others toward him. That’s what gets me angry sometimes too. I don’t enjoy being mistreated by others. What makes you angry?

In our class on Proverbs last Wednesday we discussed anger and recognized that there are good and bad kinds of anger. There is a selfish, unhealthy anger that often begins with being wronged, inconvenienced or frustrated. When we hang onto that anger, we say things we later regret and make poor choices. We do, however, have the ability to keep that anger under control. There is also an anger that is unselfish and righteous. It might be the result of an injustice we see happening to others. That anger can motivate us to bring light to the injustice and right the situation. That is the kind of anger we see Jesus display occasionally.

In Mark 11, we find the story that most people think of when it comes to the anger of Jesus. He encounters people selling and exchanging money in the temple courts, and he turns over their tables. There’s a big difference between his anger and the anger we deal with much of the time. His anger is about how God is being treated. His anger flows from a place of worship becoming a marketplace. The gospel is full of accounts of Jesus being misunderstood, mistreated and maligned. We don’t see anger as the response there; we instead see it here in the temple courts. He is far more patient with how He is treated than with the Father being disrespected. We can learn from His example. What makes you angry?

– Brian

“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”   (Proverbs 29:11)