Jesus and being assertive

[Giblien]

Something that has bothered me lately is the idea of Jesus as a purely "Nice guy". Am I wrong in thinking that Jesus was NOT a purely "Nice guy" but rather as a man who was not afraid of confrontation and would be assertive when there was injustice being done?

Here is a verse from Matthew chapter 21 verses 12-13:

12) Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13) "It is written," he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.' "

Maybe I am being overly macho here or something, but i picture Jesus walking into the temple, seeing the money changers cheating people out of their money, becoming angry and throwing the tables like a furious Bruce Willis and saying "Enough is enough! You people who are stealing peoples money, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" (Obviously this is an embellishment, but you get the idea).

I really see Jesus as a compassionate man, but also that of a very assertive man in that he will not put up with people mistreating others.

Am I way off base? Or there any other scriptures that support or disputie my thoughts here of Jesus being assertive and not a "nice guy"?

 

[Chad]

You are right brother. He [Jesus = GOD in the flesh] was angry. Now, who in their right mind wants to see GOD angry...in the flesh [Jesus] or in Spirit? It is still GOD being angry.

Remember, Jesus is mentioned in Scripture as both a Lion and Lamb.

Lion = powerful, fierceful, king of the jungle as they say
Lamb = peaceful, calm

So there is both worlds. The compassionate side of GOD, His grace and the wrathful side - His anger. Our endless ongoing sins surely does not help much, but GOD is indeed merciful to the repentant after all.

 

[aksd]

To add a few examples, take a look at Matthew 15:1-14 and Matthew 23 and see for yourself how Jesus felt about and dealt with hypocrisy, vain worship, manipulating God's word etc.

 

[jari]

Though I don't think He went furiously to drive out the money changers and oxen and released the birds, I think the actions needed are often over looked.
Imagine what happens if you just whip a one oxen in full temple area..?