Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Yesterday, we studied Matthew 21:18-22, a passage in which Jesus cursed a barren fig tree. It was the right thing to do, and it was not done in anger. Of course, hypercritical (and hypocritical) people will carp, castigate, and cavil, but His actions were and are beneficial and above reproach. Rather than accuse Jesus of a wrathful pique, it would be more helpful for all of us to consider one of the more stunning truths about Jesus and anger: He is not angry about the Cross. The cursing of the figless fig tree occurred in the same week that Jesus was betrayed, arrested, humiliated, beaten, and crucified. If Jesus had demonstrated righteous indignation at that treatment, we would have to agree that He had the right. However, the very words of Jesus as He was being nailed to the Cross assure us that He was not angry: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34a). This is astonishing good news! We did our worst to Him, but He responds by providing His best for us. Instead of anger – appropriate anger, we would all agree – He offers forgiveness full, free, and forever. We are “saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9), “delivered…from the wrath to come” (I Thessalonians 1:10), and “not appointed…to wrath” (I Thessalonians 5:9). May each one of us be certain of this eternal forgiveness that is found through faith in Jesus Christ.