Intense situations, intense emotions.

John 2:13-17 KJV

[13] And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

[14] And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

[15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; [16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

[17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

This was an intense situation, and Jesus had an intense emotion (zeal). Jesus' response was violent. Yet Jesus was most calm and gentle. He used the least amount of force, violence to achieve His purpose. He was careful to not do any harm.

Their evil was not what they were doing, but where they were doing it, the temple. Jesus' purpose was to move them out of the temple to anywhere else.

Notice His calmness and gentleness, while using violence.

1. He made a scourge. That took time. He was not impulsive. He did not react immediately. While he was making the scourge, he had time to think, and to pray, in order to respond correctly and wisely.

2. It does not say he ever hit any person or animal with the scourge. He may have, but it only says he used the scourge to drive them out.

3. No oxen, sheep, or money was lost. They were just moved from one place to another.

4. He did not release the doves. They would have flown away and been lost to their owners.

Following Jesus' example is the way to respond to intense situations, and when you are experiencing intense emotions.