“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 2:12
What would you think if I told you that Jesus was genuinely angry with some people? Would that make you uncomfortable? If so, why? Why do words like wrath, anger, fury, or even holiness grate against people while words like love and peace sound more appealing to the ears?
If someone is uncomfortable using these words to describe God, this might be because the only thing they have ever encountered in life is sinful rage. Yet Jesus’ wrath is just and should be celebrated because it’s good. He only feels wrath over things that deserve wrath. There is no such thing as unfair wrath with Jesus. Christ’s rage is holy. His fury is good and complete. Yes, His wrath is good.
How can God`s wrath be good? How is this comforting?
- Nobody wants to worship a wimpy God. We do not want a God who is soft on sin. If we are honest, an unjust God is not appealing to us. The murderer could always kill whenever and however. The rapist could forever rape freely. The liar could perpetually deceive you in the most devastating ways. God allows this for a season, but, oh, how his wrath is kindled quickly! He will tread the vineyard of the wrath of God. No sin goes unpunished. He will not tolerate wickedness forever. This truth does not allow us to point fingers. We must examine our own souls. God will not allow us to sin carte-blanche. God does not show partiality. He is ready to strike us down in our sins unless something drastically changes.
- The surprise of Christ is that we can kiss him. The shocking reality of the gospel is that Jesus should punish us, but instead offers the gift of grace. This gift was not free for him. It cost him dearly. Jesus paid for the gift with his own precious blood. God’s righteous rod of wrath struck down upon his body on Mount Calvary. Jesus bore the sins of the world upon a Roman tree.
Why the cross? Because God is holy and must punish sin. Upon Golgotha, God’s love and wrath mingle perfectly. The wrath of God which fell upon Jesus is good news for the believer.
Ironic isn’t it? Strange perhaps? Jesus is slow to anger… yet quick to kindle his wrath.
“The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Numbers 14:18
There are two ways to kiss the Son. One can fall down anointing his feet with kisses (Luke 7:37-38). Or one can attempt to kill Christ with a cold peck. (Mark 14:44-45). The former is a broken sinner relying only on the mercy of God. The latter is a hardened sinner about to be broken on the wrath of God.
So friend! Kiss the Son lest He be angry with you. His rod and his staff will comfort you.
Sean Perron
Unspoken 