By Guest Writer
Scripture Reading: Mark 11:12-19, Jeremiah 7:1-11, Psalm 69:7-9
On May 3, 1980, Cari Lightner was walking to a church carnival when a man who had only been out of jail for two days after his fourth DUI arrest, hit Cari from behind and killed her. From that unthinkable moment on, Cari’s mom, Candace, carried a photo of her daughter everywhere she went. She let her anger and sorrow over the loss of her girl fuel her passion to change drunk driving laws in her home state. Other mothers joined the fight. In time, they became MADD: Mothers Against Drunk Driving. I’m reminded of Jesus in their powerful, uncomfortable message; whether they knew it or not, those moms reflected a very Christlike anger as they directed their actions to counteract the sin and suffering around them.
Mark 11 records a side of Jesus that rarely makes it into our Pinterest posts and Vacation Bible School lessons—the angry side of Jesus. These passages don’t describe the man with flowing locks and a lap full of children that we tend to focus on when painting our fondest visions of Him. He threw people out (Mark 11:15). He flipped the tables, sending coins and livestock everywhere (v.15). He interrupted commerce and boldly declared,
“Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”
—Mark 11:17
This was a violent anger: money-flinging, table-flipping, religious elite enraging anger (v.18). The money changers appeared to be doing something pious—they were providing the animals God’s people needed to sacrifice according to His law. But that’s not what God’s house was for. Jesus didn’t lose His temper—in fact I think He found it—and directed it squarely where it belongs: at sin.
Jesus loved the money changers. A few days later Jesus would die for the money changers. But He hated the sin in their hearts.
As much as it makes us squirm, the Word helps us see that our sin should make God angry. Because He is holy, He could not tolerate our sin. Because He loves us, He hates how sin destroys the shalom kind of relationship He intended us to have with Him.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving isn’t trying to hide it. They are angry mothers: angry at substance abuse, angry at the way it distorts the addict’s sense of right and wrong, and angry that a young life, with decades of potential ahead, could be snuffed out during an innocent walk to church.
I’m so grateful the Bible doesn’t give us a sanitized Savior. One thing that Mark 11 teaches us is that God, as our Father, stands against our sin. Aren’t you glad He was angry enough to do something about it?
But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.
—Ephesians 2:13–14
Written by Erin Davis
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