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Chapter 64—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 in vain. The priests and
rulers had heard the prophetic voice echoed by the multitude 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 throng, His enemies denounced Jesus as the
leader of a rebellion. They represented 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 a temporal rule; He would soon ascend to His Father, and
His accusers would see Him no more until He should come again in
glory. Then, too late, they would acknowledge Him.
These words Jesus spoke with sadness and with singular power.
The Roman officers were silenced and subdued. Their hearts were
moved as they had never been moved before. In the solemn face
of Jesus they read love and quiet dignity. Stirred by a sympathy
they could not understand, they were inclined to pay Him homage.
Turning on the priests and rulers, they charged them with creating
the disturbance.
Meanwhile Jesus passed unnoticed to the temple. All was quiet
there, for the scene on Olivet had called away the people. For a short
time Jesus remained, looking on the temple with sorrow. Then He
returned to Bethany. When the people sought Him to place Him on
the throne, He was not to be found.
The entire night Jesus spent in prayer, and in the morning came
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again to the temple. On the way He was hungry, “and seeing a fig
tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find anything
thereon; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for
the time of figs was not yet.”
On the highlands about Jerusalem it might truly be said, “The
time of figs was not yet.” But in the orchard to which Jesus came,
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