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A Doomed People
This chapter is based on Matthew 21:17-19; Mark 11:11-14, 20, 21.
The last appeal to Jerusalem had been fruitless. The priests and
rulers had heard the prophetic voice that the people echoed in answer
to the question, “Who is this?” but they did not accept it as the voice
of Inspiration. In anger they tried to silence the people. To Roman
officers in the crowd, Jesus’ enemies denounced Him as the leader
of a rebellion. They claimed that He was about to take possession of
the temple and reign as king in Jerusalem.
But in a calm voice Jesus again declared that He had not come to
establish an earthly rule. He would soon ascend to His Father, and
His accusers would see Him no more until He would come again in
glory. Then, too late, they would acknowledge Him.
Jesus spoke these words with sadness and with noteworthy power.
The Roman officers were quiet and subdued. Their hearts were
moved as they had never been moved before. They read love and
quiet dignity in the solemn face of Jesus. Stirred by a sympathy
they could not understand, they were inclined to pay Him honor and
respect. Turning on the priests and rulers, they charged them with
creating the disturbance.
Meanwhile Jesus went unnoticed to the temple. All was quiet
there, for the scene on the Mount of Olives had called the people
away. For a short time Jesus remained, looking at the temple with
sorrow. Then He returned to Bethany. When the people looked for
Him to place Him on the throne, they could not find Him.
Jesus spent the entire night in prayer, and in the morning He
came to the temple again. On the way He was hungry, “and seeing
from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He
would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing
but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.”
On the highlands around Jerusalem it could truly be said, “It was
not the season for figs.” But in the orchard to which Jesus came,
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