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Temple Cleansed Again
351
The sound of these happy, unrestrained voices was an offense
to the rulers of the temple. They represented to the people that the
house of God was desecrated by the feet of the children and the
shouts of rejoicing. The rulers appealed to Christ: “Hearest Thou
what these say? And Jesus said to them, Yes, have ye never read,
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou has perfected praise?”
Prophecy had foretold that Christ should be proclaimed as king, and
God moved upon the children to be His witnesses. Had the voices
of the children been silent, the very pillars of the temple would have
sounded the Saviour’s praise.
The Pharisees were utterly disconcerted. Never before had Jesus
assumed such kingly authority. He had done marvelous works, but
never before in a manner so solemn and impressive. Though enraged
and confounded, the priests and rulers were unable to accomplish
anything further that day. The next morning the Sanhedrin again
considered what course to pursue toward Jesus. For three years
the rulers had evidences of His Messiahship. They now decided to
demand no sign of His authority, but to draw out some admission or
declaration by which He might be condemned.
In the temple they proceeded to question Him: “By what author-
[395]
ity doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority?”
Jesus met them with a question apparently pertaining to another
subject, and He made His reply conditional on their answering this
question: “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of
men?”
The priests saw they were in a dilemma from which no sophistry
could extricate them. If they said that John’s baptism was from
heaven, Christ would say, Why have ye not then believed on him?
John had testified of Christ, “Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world.”
John 1:29
. If the priests believed John’s
testimony, how could they deny the Messiahship of Christ?
If they declared their real belief, that John’s ministry was of
men, they would bring on themselves a storm of indignation, for
the people believed John to be a prophet. The multitude knew that
the priests had professed to accept John, and they expected them
to acknowledge that he was sent from God. But after conferring
secretly together, the priests decided not to commit themselves.