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Christ Confronts Corruption in the Temple
91
A Preview of the Final Judgment
Overpowered with terror, the priests and rulers had fled from the
temple court and from the searching glance that read their hearts. In
this scene Christ saw symbolized the dispersion of the whole Jewish
nation for their wickedness and impenitence.
Why did the priests flee? Why did they not stand their ground?
He who commanded them to go was a carpenter’s son, a poor
Galilean. Why did they not resist Him? Why leave their ill ac-
quired gain and flee at the command of One whose appearance was
so humble?
Christ spoke with the authority of a king, and in His appearance,
and in the tone of His voice, there was that which they had no
power to resist. At the word of command they realized their true
position as hypocrites and robbers. When divinity flashed through
humanity, they felt as if before the throne of the eternal Judge, with
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their sentence passed on them for time and eternity. For a time many
believed Him to be the Messiah. The Holy Spirit flashed into their
minds the utterances of the prophets concerning Christ. Would they
yield to this conviction?
Repent they would not. They knew they had been guilty of
extortion. Because Christ discerned their thoughts they hated Him.
His public rebuke was humiliating to their pride, and they were
jealous of His growing influence with the people. They determined
to challenge Him as to the power by which He had driven them forth.
Slowly and thoughtfully, but with hate in their hearts, they re-
turned to the temple. What a change had taken place! When they
fled, the poor remained behind; and these were now looking to Jesus,
whose countenance expressed His love and sympathy.
The people pressed into Christ’s presence with urgent appeals:
Master, bless me. His ear heard every cry. All received attention.
Everyone was healed of whatever disease he had.
As the priests and temple officials witnessed this great work,
what a revelation were the sounds that fell on their ears! The people
were relating the story of the pain they had suffered, of disappointed
hopes, painful days and sleepless nights. When hope seemed dead,
Christ had healed them. The burden was so heavy, one said, but I
have found a helper. He is the Christ of God, and I will devote my