Jesus’ conduct was the keenest sort of criticism of these rulers, before the eyes of the nation and of the thousands of pilgrims present.  These leaders never forgave this humiliating rebuke of themselves.  It made their nerves raw to His touch ever after.  Here is the real reason of all their after bitter dislike.  They had a sensitive pocket-nerve.  It was a sort of pneumogastric nerve so close did it come to their lives.  Jesus touched it roughly.  It never quit aching.  Scratch all their later charges against Him and under all is this sore spot.  The tree of the cross began growing its wood that day.  Their hot, captious demand for authority, meant as much for the ears of the crowd as for His, brought from Jesus, who read His future in their hearts, a reply which they could not understand.  They asked their question for the crowd to hear, He replied for His disciples to remember in the after years.  There could be no evidence of authority more significant than this temple incident.

His first public work was done at this time.  The great throng of pilgrims from around the world, attracted to Him by this simple daring act of leadership, witnessed a group of mighty acts during these Passover days.  The angry leaders had critically asked for “signs” of His authority.  He gave them in abundance, not in response to their captious demand, but doubtless, as always, in response to pressing human needs.  The result was that many persons accepted Him, but the nation in its rulers, maintained their attitude of angered, contemptuous silence.  But underneath that surface the pot is beginning to boil.

Of all the members of the national Senate, one, just one, comes to make personal inquiry, and sift this man’s claim sincerely and candidly.  And he, be it marked, chooses a darkened hour for that visit.  That night hour speaks volumes of the smouldering passion under their contempt.  That Jesus recognized fully their attitude and just what it meant comes out in that quiet evening talk.  To that sincere inquirer, He frankly Jays, “You people won’t receive the witness that John and I have brought you.”  He was pleading before a court that stubbornly refuses testimony of fact.  And to this honest seeker, whom we must all love for his sincerity, He reveals His inner consciousness of a tragic break coming, with a pleading word for personal trust, and a saddened “men love darkness.”

With the going away of the Passover crowds, Jesus leaves the national capital, and assists in the sort of work John was doing.  His power to draw men, and men’s eagerness for Him, stand out sharply at once.  John had drawn great crowds of all classes.  Jesus drew greater crowds.  Multitudes eagerly accepted John’s teaching and accepted baptism from him.  As it turned out, greater multitudes of people, under the very eyes of these ignoring, contemptuous leaders, accepted Jesus’ leadership.  John baptized.  Jesus baptized through His disciples.  These leaders in their questioning of John had tacitly acknowledged the propriety of “the Christ” using such a rite.  Jesus follows the line of least resistance, and fitted into the one phase of His work which they had recognized as proper.