When I was young I learned that prayer, it pictured in my head a Jesus with arms outstretched and smiling with maybe angelic choirs in the background going "aaaahhhh!" Yet, while He does have a gentle side I would like to inform you that Jesus is NOT a pushover. I think these verses speak for themselves.
And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the
temple, and began to cast out them that sold and
bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of
the moneychangers, and the seats of them that
sold doves; And would not suffer that any man
should carry any vessel through the temple. And he
taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall
be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have
made it a den of thieves.
Mark 11: 15 - 17
But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant
that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There
are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd.
“Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”
But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you
works on the Sabbath day! Don’t you untie your ox
or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead
it out for water? This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham,
has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t
it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?”
Luke 13:14-16
Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he
prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor
me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their
worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as
commands from God.’ For you ignore God’s law and
substitute your own tradition.” others.”
Mark 7: 6 -8
Even the wind and the waves obey him.
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross
to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat
and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other
boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High
waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with
water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with
his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting,
“Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When
Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves,
“Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there
was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid?
Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified.
“Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and
waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35 - 41
Now, why don't you try telling me that my Jesus is a wuss?
[NLT versions]
Comments (4)
Common misconception...... and another one of those images of Jesus (and Christianity) that could be solved just by reading the word!
Great word!
x
Yay. Jesus was definitely not a pushover. He is loving and gentle, but he is firm!
what about when he called them a brood of vipers...that was a good one.
@quiet_strength - good one! There are so many scriptures that show Him as a warrior, I don't know where people get to thinking that God is weak and that Jesus was weak.
@Kim - I just like reminding myself from time to time that while God is gentle he's no pushover :)
@mamma_sez - truer words ...