Our precious Lord was very human as He walked the Earth, very human indeed! There was nothing that we experience today that He did not feel while walking here in as a man.

“After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So, he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a flea market!" (NIV) John 2:12-16

Making a Whip!

Picture Jesus the Son of God walking onto the grounds of the Temple – a house which was dedicated to the worship of his Father – God! There HE finds that this place of worship has been turned into a “Flea Market”!

“In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.” (John 2:14)

There were people arguing with merchants and literally shouting to be heard over all the commotion! Other people were crowded around the tables of the money changers and they were terribly angry about the unfair rates of exchange for their money! After taking all of this in, it was at this point I believe Jesus came to a halt! Jesus was experiencing the depth of his emotions!

Jesus timed out! He left and walked away from the situation. It was time to talk to his Father! Jesus began asking his Father what to do! How do we know this? Because Jesus has told us The Son can do nothing on his own.” (John 5:19; 30) The plan was to make a whip. This process takes time. Jesus needed the materials to make a whip out of cords and He certainly could not go to an Ace Hardware or Lowes and buy one. He had to find the material and make it! To do so He would have needed to go outside the wall of the city and find the pieces to make the whip – he would have to sit down alone and weave this whip. This takes time! That was the idea! He needed time to talk and listen. He needed time to vent to His Father! He did not want to react to his emotions and act on them inappropriately! He wanted God’s will to prevail! Jesus has told us: I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 5:30c) (NRSV) Having received his direction – the Bible tells us this: “Making a whip out of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” (John 2:15-16) (NRSV)

A perfect Savior does a perfect job of showing us how to handle anger! It would be a good idea for us to remember the process Jesus used: Feel your emotions – Do not act on them - Time yourself out – Talk to God – Get your direction. Then carry out God’s direction - thus applying God’s perfect will into the situation!

(sw-h)
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