When most people think of Jesus, they picture His love, grace, and mercy. And rightly so—He is the Good Shepherd, the friend of sinners, and the One who laid down His life so that we could be saved. But there is another side to Jesus that is just as important: His righteousness, His boldness, and His refusal to tolerate sin and injustice.
A striking example of this is found in Mark 11:15-17, where Jesus enters the temple and drives out the money changers, overturning tables and stopping people from misusing God’s house. This is not the passive, always-gentle Jesus that some imagine. This is the Jesus who stands for truth, confronts corruption, and demands that God’s will be done.
Jesus: The Lion and the Lamb
Revelation 5:5-6 describes Jesus as both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain. These two images capture the fullness of His character. As the Lamb, He is meek, humble, and full of mercy. But as the Lion, He is bold, powerful, and unafraid to challenge hypocrisy.
Jesus did not shy away from confrontation when necessary. He rebuked the Pharisees for their legalism and hypocrisy (Matthew 23), warned His disciples about false teachers (Matthew 7:15-20), and called people to repentance with urgency. His love was not soft tolerance—it was a love that sought transformation.
Jesus and Righteous Anger
In the temple, Jesus’ anger was not a loss of control but a righteous, holy indignation. The religious leaders had turned a place of worship into a business venture, exploiting those who came to seek God. Jesus’ response was not out of personal offense but out of a zeal for God’s holiness.
Many Christians struggle with the idea of righteous anger. But Jesus shows us that loving people does not mean tolerating evil. There are times when standing for truth requires firm action. Jesus never acted out of pride or selfishness, but He did act when the glory of God was at stake.
Jesus Calls Us to Boldness
As followers of Jesus, we are called to reflect His full character—not just His kindness, but also His courage. In a world that often distorts truth, we must stand firm in righteousness. This doesn’t mean being harsh or unkind, but it does mean being willing to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
Jesus was both compassionate and bold. He forgave the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) but also told her, “Go and sin no more.” He healed the sick and ate with sinners, but He also warned of judgment and the need for repentance. He was not afraid to challenge the powerful or disrupt the status quo when it stood against God’s kingdom.
The Jesus We Follow
If we only see Jesus as gentle and passive, we miss the depth of who He is. If we only see Him as bold and confrontational, we miss His endless mercy. The true Jesus—the Jesus of Scripture—is both. He is the loving Savior and the righteous King. He welcomes sinners but does not leave them as they are. He forgives, restores, and calls us to live in holiness.
As we follow Jesus, let’s embrace the fullness of His character. Let’s love deeply, but also stand courageously for truth. Let’s extend grace, but also seek justice. Let’s be like Jesus—the Lion and the Lamb.
