With terrified countenances and whispered words the people asked:  “When will this happen?”

“Watch, my children!  God alone knows the day and hour.  This world is passing, as you see, hour by hour.  Everything changes; only the word of the Father shall endure for ever.”

This speech of the Prophet made a deep impression on the people.  They no longer shouted or rejoiced; they no longer looked on His countenance as gladly as the day before, the glowing eyes burnt with such terrible anger.  They became silent, or only whispered to each other.  Did you understand? one asked his neighbour quietly.  Yes, they had all understood, but each something different.  They were all impressed with the words; every one was moved; and groups of people, as they made their way out, talked over the Prophet’s speech, and many began to dispute about it.

“I don’t expect much from this Messiah,” said an innkeeper to his guests.  “As far as I can see, He promises more ill than good.  If He can offer nothing better than the destruction of Jerusalem and the Last Judgment, He might just as well have stayed at home at Nazareth.”

“No, I’ve never taken much account of the Last Judgment,” said a dealer in skins from Jericho.

“It’s quite true,” shouted a tailor, “nothing good comes from Galilee!”

“Nor from Judaea,” laughed an unpatriotic tailor from Joppa.  “I can tell you I expect nothing until we have expelled all our Jewish princes and Rabbis and become Romans out and out.  The Emperor of Rome is the true Messiah.  All the rest should be impaled.”

So they gave vent to their various opinions.  The Temple authorities rubbed their hands in satisfaction.  “He is not clever enough to be dangerous.  He will hardly come within the arm of the law after what He has said.”

“But the people will judge Him,” said one of the oldest among them, “the people themselves.  Mark that!  I promise you they will.”

“No, indeed.  He is not a man of fair words,” said one of the overseers.  “He does not flatter the mob, and my contempt for the Nazarene is less than it was yesterday.  If He falls in the eyes of the people, He rises in mine.”

“The man makes me think that He will soon give Himself up.  Did you hear His allusion to Golgotha?”

“Bless my soul, a famous prophet has got to be right in something,” mocked one of the high priests.  “I think we ought to confer with the authorities so as to prevent any disturbance to-morrow at the festival.  You understand me?”

“That’s worth consideration with all this concourse of people.”

“I think he has poured enough water on the fire,” said the high priest.  “No one would stir a finger if we took Him.”

“Let’s wait till the festival is over.  You can never be sure of the mob.”

“What!  After laying traps for Him all over the country, are we to let Him insult us here in the Temple itself?  No, I don’t fear the mob any more.  The law is more hazardous.”