Be Angry Like Jesus

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." - Mark 10:13-14 (NASB)

Today I want to focus in on just one key word from these two verses. It’s the word "indignant". Within this words, we see the emotions of Jesus. We learn what makes Jesus tick, what makes Him mad, what makes Him angry.

In verse 13, we learn that people are bringing little children to Jesus in order to have Him touch them. Luke 18:15 describes these children as "babies". Thus, these people appear to be desiring Jesus to bless the children and not necessarily to heal them. They want particular blessings from the rabbi and teacher Jesus.

However, the disciples regard these children as nuisances. They are unimportant and will waste His time. They look at these little children and see nothing with regard to the future kingdom of God. They view the children like their culture did and disregarded them as having any worth.

Jesus saw something quite different. They were valuable to Him. Just as the prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners had been. So, Jesus not only encouraged them to come but welcomed them. He became "indignant" when they were prevented from doing so.

The word for indignant in the Greek is the word AGANAKTEO. It means to be "displeased, angry, to grieve" or as Vines Expository Dictionary defines it "to feel a violent irritation, physically." Therefore, this was an extreme and outward emotion that Jesus expresses. He is angry.

This is not gentle Jesus, meek and mild. This is an angry and upset Jesus. A Jesus that showed emotions and wanted absolutely no one to be prevented from coming to Him. You can almost sense His thoughts as being, "Don't you dare try to keep these little ones or anyone else from coming after me!"

It's important to observe His anger. Jesus had a "righteous anger". A righteous anger is aroused when another person is harmed in some way. Jesus never becomes angry throughout His ministry when He Himself is injured or hurt. He does, however, get very upset when others are harmed in some way. His anger is most clearly seen in His cleansing of the temple. It is in these two accounts (Jn 2:13-17; Mt 21:12-13) that we see Jesus angry at the way His Heavenly Father is being treated. Once again, it’s a righteous anger.

Jesus expressed anger. It was an appropriate reaction. How many of us get angry when others are mistreated? How many of us feel sickened and upset when someone else is made to feel unfit or unworthy to seek after Jesus? How many of us get angry when we see another Christian placing stumbling blocks and obstacles preventing someone from coming to the Lord?

We should. Too often we are instead angry when we are offended. Jesus never did this. We can choose not to be angry over such injustices. We must learn to see within Jesus what appropriate anger is supposed to look like.

Don’t be afraid to express anger - so long as it models that of Jesus.