Indignant
What makes Jesus angry tells us what he loves
Mark 10:13-14NIV
Observe. When the disciples rebuke those bringing children, Mark records that Jesus was indignant. He commands them to let the little children come and not to hinder them, and he gives the reason: the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Interpret. Mark uses this word for anger sparingly. Jesus is indignant at hard hearts in the synagogue in chapter three, and he is indignant here. Both times the anger rises because someone is standing between a needy person and God's mercy. The disciples had made themselves gatekeepers, and the gate they were guarding was one Jesus wanted wide open. The phrase 'such as these' extends beyond literal children to anyone who comes without credentials.
Apply. Churches and Christians can hinder without meaning to. A tone that makes newcomers feel examined, programs shaped only for people who already belong, a distracted impatience toward those who cost time. Jesus' anger is a warning against becoming the disciples in this scene. The gate is his, and he wants it open.
Who might you be hindering, even politely, from coming to Jesus? And what would it look like this week to stop guarding a gate he has opened?
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