Angry Love

At the end of Mark 2 we read of Jesus’ disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath because they were hungry. The Pharisees were quite disturbed that they would dare to do this in violation of Sabbath law but Jesus corrected their understanding of the Sabbath by stating, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)

The next thing we see at the beginning of Mark 3 is the Pharisees again hovering in wait for a chance to condemn Jesus for a Sabbath violation. This time around, their legalism is almost unthinkably stupid from any perspective but their own. There was a man in the synagogue with a withered hand – and Jesus dared to heal him… on the Sabbath! But right before He did, we read that Jesus “looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart.” (Mark 3:5)

I find it intriguing here to see how the expression and relationship of grief and anger are actually a reflection of the imago Dei - the image in which we were created. Anger is an entirely legitimate emotion for us, especially when caused by grief with others for their injustice and lack of loving mercy. The Pharisees were so bound up in their rules and laws that they couldn’t comprehend overriding one for the sake of the compassionate care and healing of another human.

Many of us may be familiar with, “Be angry, and do not sin.” (Psalm 4:4) But how? Perhaps if we consider it this way: “Be angry, and love.”

May that which grieves Jesus’ heart grieve ours - and may our anger be a reflection of His love.