What makes Jesus angry? (Gen 6-8; Psalm 104; Mark 3)

If you want to know how good a children’s Bible is, see what they do with Genesis 6-9. That’s my wife’s advice and I think it’s wise! It is amazing how many people can make a cute story about fluffy animals about a horrific account of man’s sin and God’s judgment. We reach a point in Genesis where sin has spread so much that the Lord is grieved and judges the earth. There was only one way to be safe, to take God at His word and trust in the rescue he provided (an ark).

Sometimes people say that the God of the Old Testament is a wrathful God, whereas in the New Testament He is different. However, our gospel reading from the reading plan today (Mark 3) shows us what makes Jesus angry. It may be a surprise. God is angry (Genesis 6) at the evil of men’s hearts, Jesus is angry (Mark 3) at the hardness of men’s hearts. Jesus is just about to heal a man with a withered hand, but instead of rejoicing at Jesus bringing life and healing, the religious people see an opportunity to accuse Jesus for breaking the Sabbath. Jesus is angry at their hard hearts, at their stubborn unbelief, and He heals the man even though He knows it will lead to confrontation with the religious establishment. Sure enough the Pharisees show what their hearts are really like by plotting how to destroy Jesus. It’s so sad that Jesus is there giving life, and they are planning how to take it away.

What hope is there for people with hard or evil hearts?

Later in the chapter Jesus says that all sin can be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What is this? It seems from the passage that it is ongoing resistance to Jesus that is evidenced by hardheartedness of accusing Jesus of acting by the power of the devil. If we continue rejecting Jesus there is no hope, but if like Noah we take God at His word and trust the means of rescue available then we will be safe. For Noah, he had to trust that the ark would be a place of safety. For us, it is our saviour’s death on our behalf that is our place of refuge. Jesus said that whoever comes to him, He will never cast out (John 6:37). Is that something you have done, or is your heart still hard towards God?

Jesus warns us that just as people were eating and drinking and getting on with life thinking that no judgement would come, but just as it suddenly started raining, so it will be when Jesus returns. “Therefore you also must be ready for the Son of Man (Jesus) is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44)

Are you ready?

At the end of the chapter, Jesus tells us how to be ready – seek to do His will, and if we do, He will treat as His own family! (Mark 3:35)