22
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
money-changers and the cattle; “and would not suffer that any man
should carry any vessel through the temple.” So sacred did the world’s
Redeemer regard the building dedicated to the worship of God. The
priests and rulers dared not show open hostility to Jesus in presence
of the people who had witnessed his wonderful works. Though en-
raged and confounded by his answer they were unable to accomplish
anything farther that day.
On the following morning the Sanhedrim was assembled for the
purpose of deciding what should be done with Jesus. His singular
invasion of the temple was so presumptuous and surpassingly strange
in their eyes, that they urged the propriety of calling him to account for
the boldness of his conduct in interfering with the authorized keepers of
the temple. Three years before they had challenged him to give them a
sign of his Messiahship. Since that time he had wrought mighty works
in their midst. He had healed the sick, miraculously fed thousands of
people, walked upon the boisterous waves, and spoken peace unto the
troubled sea. He had repeatedly read the secrets of their hearts like an
open book; he had cast out demons, and raised the dead to life; yet they
still refused to see and acknowledge the evidences of his Messiahship.
They now decided to demand no sign of his authority for his bold
action regarding the temple, but to confront him with questions and
charges calculated to draw out some admissions or declarations by
which they might condemn him. After carefully arranging their plan
they repaired to the temple where Jesus was preaching the gospel to
the people, and proceeded to question him as to what authority he had
for his acts in the temple. They expected him to reply that God had
[29]
invested him with the authority which he had there manifested. This
assertion they were prepared to deny. But instead of this Jesus met
them with a question apparently pertaining to another subject: “The
baptism of John, was it from Heaven, or of men?” His questioners
were at a loss how to reply. If they should deny the mission of John
and his baptism unto repentance, they would lose influence with the
people—for John was acknowledged by them to be a prophet of God.
But if they should acknowledge that John’s mission was divine, then
they would be obliged to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah; for John
had repeatedly pointed him out to the people as the Christ, saying,
“Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.” John