Friday, October 7, 2011
Mark 10:14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.
RIGHTEOUS ANGER
What is this? Jesus angry? Isn't He the One who gently leads His flock like a shepherd, who carries the lambs in His arms? Just two verses later He will take small children in his arms, put His hands on them and bless them! Yet Mark tells us that just a moment before that, He was indignant! What could possibly make Him angry?
Has someone inflicted pain upon Him? No, when they did that, He just said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
He has been so patient with His disciples who do not understand that He is on His way to Jerusalem to suffer for the sins of the world. They do know, however, that His mind is on some heavy thoughts and He is on some great mission. They no doubt think that they are helping Him on his mission, whatever it is, when they fend off some who want to bring their children to Jesus.
These are not the disciples' children, but even if they had been, perhaps they would have thought the same way. A publisher of Vacation Bible School material was once presenting the new curriculum for that year to a group of superintendents. He began with the upper levels, who were to learn about the life of Christ, but when he came to the pre-schoolers he concluded, "the little guys and gals, too young to receive Jesus yet, will be taught obedience."
It was when the disciples acted like He couldn't do anything for the children and tried to keep them away from Him that "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.'"
