Introduction

Jesus was compassionate toward the outcasts of society and brutal toward highly respected religious leaders. He disrupted their religious festivals, called them snakes, and warned their followers to avoid modeling their lives after them. Why does Jesus seem outraged by the most revered of religious leaders rather than the greatest of sinners?

Series overview: When we think of Jesus, we often think of his kindness, gentleness, and tenderness. We think of his graciousness toward sinners, his generosity toward the poor, and his healing of the sick. So what do we do about the stories of Jesus that come crashing into all our Jesus stereotypes – stories where He seems wild, angry, unfair, or even brutal? Could this savage side of Jesus cause us to love him even more?