Was Jesus ever “Moody”?
“Jesus in the Temple with the money changers.”
I had an Uncle (a much loved, Southern Baptist Pastor and Preacher) who frequently said, “Jesus loves you and so do I”.
I also had a good friend (An independent Baptist Pastor and Preacher) who loved to say, “Remember to be kind and gentle, like Jesus”.
I recently thought of these two men, who had an influence on my life, but, I wondered if these two defining statements are compatible.
What do you think?
Here are some Bible verses which are the words spoken by Jesus or about Jesus. I would like to know what you think, so let’s play a game. OK?
1. Assign ONE WORD to describe Jesus’ apparent mood from the highlighted words in each section of verses.
2. Describe the reason for Jesus’ remarks or actions.
3. Answer the question, “Was Jesus being ‘kind and gentle'” and “Was Jesus being loving?”
(I will do the first one as an example. You may have a different idea or opinion, so use your own ideas.)
I. Mark 11:12-26 “On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He (Jesus) became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.
Verse 20. “When evening came, they would go out of the city. As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.”
And Jesus answered, saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
Jesus’ mood? ______________________
Jesus’ reason?: _____________________
Jesus found the tree as ‘useless’ and “cursed” it. Was He teaching His disciples, by this act, not to spend their time on things (people?) who were decidedly and purposefully ‘useless’ in the Kingdom.
Was Jesus mood was pragmatic?
He was dealing with this matter based on a practical spiritual application rather than theoretical considerations. He is teaching His disciples how to “do His Works, and greater works”. He was not driven by moods, but by the opportunity to Speak the Words of Truth and to teach the Truth which transcends this natural world, so His disciples could walk in the Spirit and in power.
He also told His disciples, in other scriptures, that if they ever lost their usefulness or ‘saltiness’ they would be good for nothing except to cast out and trod under the foot of men’. Matthew 5:8.
Paul also teaches that God takes no pleasure in those who shrink back, in the sense of being cowardly. Hebrews 10:39 Jesus actions were brave, bold and direct Truth.
Jesus’ acts were always bold. He was not worried about recrimination for destroying the unfruitful tree and teaching it to his disciples. Revelation 21:8 teaches us that “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (This is the bold truth.)
In conclusion, Jesus’ teaching is about faith, the demonstration of faith and the obstacles to faith and to overcoming this world.
It is a Spiritual law that “Unforgiveness” will negate your faith. So when the Bible tells us “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions” it is really saying that you have chosen to abrogate God’s forgiveness toward you and to negate the authority Jesus have given you.
It is our choice, not His.
To wit:
FAITH – Mark 11:23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
DEMONSTRATION OF FAITH – Verse 24. “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
ABROGATION OF FAITH – Verse 25. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Verse 26. “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”
Was Jesus “moody”?
Was Jesus always “Kind and Gentle”?
Was He showing love for others?
How does this Truth apply to our ‘moods’? To our speech, conduct and Kingdom effectiveness?
The ministry of ‘changing the world for Jesus’ isn’t over yet. So, let’s Walk Out our Faith in power and in Truth.
Your Friend and Brother
Mike Young
Whitestone Fellowship 