A Story of God and All of Us Young Reade - By Roma Downey Page 0,37

They banter with one another. Jesus grabs the table edge with two hands and flips it over. Then he goes on to the next table and does the same. All heads in the temple court turn to the sound of spilling coins, and onlookers immediately race to scoop up the fallen money. "What are you doing?" shrieks one money changer.

But Jesus is not done. He cannot be stopped. On to the next table.

Jesus flips another table, which bounces against a birdcage and sets loose a flock of doves.

"Why?" asks one vendor, disconsolate about all his 159

earnings now scattered on the temple floor. "Why have you done this?"

"Is it not written?"

"What on earth could you possibly mean?"

"Is it not written?" Jesus repeats, but this time in a booming voice that echoes throughout the chamber. In an instant, the entire court is silent.

"My house... my house shall be called a house of prayer," Jesus continues.

"But you have turned it into a den of thieves."

Peter and John hold back the angry merchants as they attempt to punish Jesus, who has finished this task and is marching out of the court. In his wake are tipped tables, angry traders, and a scene of total chaos.

Nicodemus from the Sanhedrin steps forward.

"Who are you to tell us this? How dare you? It is we who interpret God's law--not you."

"You're more like snakes than teachers of the law," Jesus replies in a heated tone.

Nicodemus is beyond shocked. "Wait. You can't say that! We uphold the law. We serve God."

"No," Jesus replies. "You pray lofty prayers. You strut about the temple,

impressed by your own piety. But you are just hypocrites."

Nicodemus is stunned. Men of his rank are simply not spoken to in this manner.

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Jesus reaches out and gently lifts the fine material of Nicodemus's robe, rubbing the delicate threads between his fingers. "It is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle," Jesus tells him, letting go of the robe.

Everyone in the temple has heard Jesus' words. The Jewish pilgrims who have traveled so far to be there for Passover are inspired by such a courageous stance against the rich and powerful men of the religious establishment, who have oppressed their own people as much as the Romans have. Only they've used threats and God's law instead of brute force to control the people.

Nicodemus looks about uneasily. He feels trapped. The crowd is definitely on Jesus' side. At the far end of the chamber, he sees the Roman soldiers prepared to move in if the situation gets out of hand.

As Jesus leaves the temple, he is followed by the disciples, a crowd of excited new followers, and a few Jewish elders who want to know more about Jesus' teachings. Malchus trails far behind, working as Caiaphas's spy.

Jesus leads this unlikely procession of old friends, 161

new friends, elders, and a spy down the temple steps, then suddenly stops, turns, and faces them.

Malchus does his best to appear as if he's there accidentally, but his purpose is now clear.

Jesus ignores him. Instead, despite the huge crowd, he speaks to his disciples as if no one else is there. "Do you see this great building?" he tells them. "I tell you that not one stone of this place will be left standing."

Peter and John look at each other. Did Jesus really say what they thought he said? Is he really threatening to destroy the temple?

A Jewish elder has heard Jesus' words, and questions him. "Who are you to say these things?"

Jesus continues talking to his disciples: "Destroy this temple and I wil build it again in three days."

"How is this possible?" the elder asks.

Jesus doesn't answer him. He abruptly turns and continues on his way, leaving his disciples scratching their heads about what Jesus means by his comments.

Caiaphas and the high priests are gathered, discussing the situation with Nicodemus, his servant Malchus, and his handpicked group of elders.

"He said what?" asks an incredulous Caiaphas.

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Malchus is the first to reply: "That he would destroy the temple."

"I am shocked. He claims to be a man of God, and then says he plans to destroy the house of our Lord?"

Caiaphas remains silent, steadying himself against the shock waves pounding his body. This is far worse than he thought. Finally, he speaks.

"We must act fast. Very fast. But with care. We cannot arrest him openly. His supporters will riot, and then Rome will crack down." Caiaphas pauses,