His Dual Nature
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. Matthew 21:12
Until Jesus started upending tables and throwing money around in the temple, most of us probably thought of Him as a quiet, deep-thinking, gentle kind of guy. Gwen Ford Faulkenberry (Mornings with Jesus) has a way of sharing her thoughts that brings more character awareness.
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This scene of Jesus on a rampage in the temple holds endless fascination for me. I’m glad the story was included in the Gospels because alongside washing feet, healing the sick, and suffering on a cross, it rounds out the picture. Without examples of behavior like this, it might be tempting to paint Jesus as only meek and mild, like a lamb.
And He is the Lamb of God. I’m thankful for that too, of course. A lamb is soft, innocent, and warm. It’s a nonthreatening animal you can cozy up to. But let’s not forget that the Lamb of God is also the Lion of Judah. He’s king—the boss and scary powerful. A lion’s roar can make your blood chill in your veins. I heard the sound one time on a safari in Kenya, and I have never forgotten it. That kind of thing stays with you.
Why is this dual nature so important? It’s because in Jesus we find a balance. Tough and tender, gentle yet firm, and power under control. When kindness worked, that was His way. But He knew there were times one can’t “nice” their way through—especially when the problem is a whole corrupt system like the one in the temple, which had to be broken down. We are builders in His kingdom, and sometimes that means overturning the old to make way for the new.
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us the many character traits of Jesus. Help us to live a life that is Christ-like and balanced. AMEN.