Anger is typically a secondary emotion, a manifestation of something deeper. We might be deeply hurt by a close relationship, and the pain manifests as anger. Or, we might have skipped too many meals and are simply “hangry.” No matter what, this feeling is the symptom and helps us identify the underlying condition. 

In John 2:13-25 we see a side of Jesus not frequently seen in the rest of John or the other Gospels. He is angry, and He isn’t hiding it. But Jesus isn’t angry for the sake of being angry. When we dive into the text, we get clues. Not only had the temple leaders allowed the courts to be turned “into a market,” but their set-up was most likely in the outer courts. This part of the temple structure was the closest Gentiles could get to Temple worship. Jesus is angry because of what the temple has become–a place of commerce that it was never intended to be, and it certainly doesn’t much resemble the house of prayer for all nations. He’s profoundly disappointed. This entire scene is an affront to God’s plan for His people. 

In Ephesians, Paul says to be sure not to sin in our anger (4:26). It’s important to note that Jesus’s anger drove Him to productive action, not to sin. This passage of Scripture forces us to ask ourselves a few important questions:

• How do we feel when we see the mission of God not being fulfilled? 
• When we feel angry, is our response sinful or productive?
• How did Jesus contribute to the situation described by the statement, "Jesus leaned in. He didn’t leave the scene; he was a part of the solution?"