When Jesus gets angry

I re-read this passage yesterday, and noticed a few things.

Mark, Chapter 3:1-6. Here is the passage as it appears in the Bible:

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. ²Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. ³Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

⁴Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

⁵He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. –Mark 3:1-6 NIV

Heres the passage again, with my comments in bold. (You know how I love to do this!)

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Jesus was often in the synagogue, and word had spread that He is a healer.

²Some of them (Pharisees) were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Can you imagine? What goes through a person’s mind who believes in healing, yet wants to decide when and where Jesus can heal? They want to accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath. They really want to get rid of Jesus; He threatens their place in society.

³Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Now, this would be CRUEL if this were where the story ended. “Get up in front of everyone and let them see your defect.” If God puts us in this situation, it is not to leave us in our misery. Think of it as “before and after” pictures.

⁴Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life, or to kill?” But they remained silent. The Pharisees didn’t want to say anything. They already had encounters with Jesus where He showed them the nonsense of their words. They had a plan of just letting Him heal on the Sabbath so they could accuse Him, and punish Him. They don’t even consider His words. “Is it lawful to do good or to do evil?” The Pharisees were more interested in their man-made “letter of the law” than Mercy or Compassion.

⁵He looked around at them in anger Jesus is angry! and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, Their hearts were like stone. They didn’t have compassion on the man. Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man, standing in the middle of the congregation, with all eyes on him, obeyed Jesus. He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. When the man did what Jesus said, he was healed–in front of everyone. Time for the “after” picture. I’m sure there was much rejoicing.

⁶Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. Again, this shows the sad condition of the Pharisees’ hearts. Instead of being glad that God had sent them a Healer, they were more concerned with how to get rid of Jesus.

I find it interesting that Jesus got angry, but instead of zapping the Pharisees (my first thought), He decides to really irk them, and heal the man instead.