No more dramatic, impressive presentation could have been made of Jesus to the nation.  To their Oriental minds it would be peculiarly significant, Mark keenly the result.  On the part of the leaders utter silence There could be no more cutting expression of their contempt.  With eyebrows uplifted, eyes coldly questioning, their lips slightly curling, or held close together and pursed out, and shoulders shrugging, their contempt, utter disgusted contempt, could not be more loudly expressed.  If they had had the least disposition to believe John’s words about Jesus, even so far as to investigate patiently and thoroughly, how different would their conduct have been!  But—­only silence.  And silence long continued.  Jesus gave them plenty of time before the next step was taken.  No silence ever spoke in louder voice.  That same day five thoughtful men of that same throng did investigate, and were satisfied, and gave at once loyal, loving allegiance.

A few months later, the Passover Feast drew crowds from everywhere to Jerusalem.  Jesus coming into the temple areas, with the crowds, one day, is struck at once with the strange scene.  Instead of reverent, holy quiet, as worshippers approached the dwelling-place of God, with their offerings of penitence and worship, the busy bustle of a market-place greets His ears.  The noise of cattle and sheep being driven here and there, the pavement like an unkempt barnyard, loud, discordant voices of men handling the beasts and bargaining over exchange rates at the brokers’ tables—­strange scene.  Is it surprising that His ear and eye and heart, perhaps fresh from a bit of quiet morning talk with His Father, were shocked?  Here, where everything should have called to devotion, everything jarred.

Quietly and quickly putting some bits of knotted string together, He started the stock out, doubtless against the protests of the keepers.  With flashing light out of those keen eyes, He tipped over the tables, spilling out their precious greedy coins, and ordered the crates of pigeons removed.  But all with no suggestion of any violence used toward anybody.  Reluctantly, perhaps angrily, wholly against their plans and wishes, the crowd, impelled by something in this unknown Man, with no outer evidence of authority, goes.  It is a remarkable tribute, both to the power of His personal presence and to His executive faculty.

Of course the thing made trouble.  It was the talk of the town, and of all the foreigners for days after.  The leaders were aroused and angered, deeply angered.  This stranger had kicked up a pretty muss with His inconvenient earnestness and inconsiderate quoting of Scripture.  It was a practical assumption of superior authority over them.  It was an assumption of the truth of John’s ignored claim that He was the promised King.

Was not this arrangement in the temple area a great convenience for the many strangers, who were their brothers and guests; a real kindly act of hospitality?  Yes—­and was it not, too, a finely organized bit of business for profiting by these strangers, a using of their proper authority over the temple territory to transfer their brothers’ foreign coins safely over to their own purses?  Aye, it was a transmuting of their holy offices into gold by the alchemy of their coarse, greedy touch.