He taught them

Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.'" – Mark 11.17

I can only think of a couple of times when we see Jesus angry. Once was when Peter denied that Jesus should suffer and die and Jesus rounded on him and said ‘Get behind me Satan!’

The other is here when Jesus walks into the Temple and finds a marketplace. Men are extorting people at scalping prices to buy doves and other sacrifices. Others are operating a foreign exchange to rip the people off who don’t have the right coins.

In response we see Jesus rushing in, overturning their tables, and throwing them out.

But I love what comes next – ‘then He taught them.’

Jesus didn’t just lose the head and rage – He did what needed to be done, and He taught them.

The lesson of people who try to make merchandise or ‘peddle the word of God for profit’ is one worth looking at. For now though I am interested by the fact that Jesus didn’t just react – He took the time to teach.

I think there is a lesson there for us. Too often in dealing with people, even our own kids and grandkids we are quick to correct and try to set things right, but slow to take the time to lovingly teach.

Even the seeming worst circumstances can be an opportunity to teach. We need grab to deal with what needs dealt with, but then take the time to teach.