Jesus, a passionate man

The last two days, we’ve thought about the humility and compassion of Jesus. However, the Savior of the world, gentle and humble in heart, knew how to show an entirely different part of Himself when necessary. Do you know which story in the Bible I’m referring to?

“When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.’” (the Bible, Mark 11:15-17, NLT)

Jesus is also capable of expressing His anger and displeasure with strength and passion:

• He displays His anger before those who don’t respect His Father’s temple; He even makes a whip to chase them out. (Read John 2:15) 
• He is outraged by the schemes of the vendors and money changers who directly insult His Father. (Read Psalm 69:9) 
• He is consumed with passion for His house, which He sees being turned into a “den of thieves.” (Read John 2:17)  

Jesus suffers because of this situation and expresses it with intense passion. Moreover, the word “passion” comes from the Latin “passio,” which means “suffering.” “Passion” is therefore suffering, an expression used later in reference to His torment on the cross.

Have you noticed that Jesus was a man passionate about His mission? Jesus, as the Savior of humanity, took His role very seriously. He was neither passive nor weak, He put His whole heart into it, and He acted with great passion in all He did – when He healed, when He delivered, and when He taught.

Jesus loves you passionately. I encourage you to stay closely connected to Him…and to respond to His love by loving Him more and more in return.

Be blessed!