A day after he arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus, in a rare angry outburst, entered the temple courts of Jerusalem and began driving out those who were buying and selling there.
He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, and did not not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
“Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers", he admonished the traders.
Some bystanders told this reporter they were amazed at the strange authority with which he drove the traders away.
"He acted like he owned the place", lamented some displaced traders.
It is learnt that the traders have made a complaint against him to temple authorities, but the authorities are unable to do anything, openly, afraid of upsetting the huge crowds that are following Jesus, and listening to him preach.
However, unfazed by covert threats from temple authorities', Jesus said he will be preaching the next day in the same temple area.
So, tomorrow will tell us more.
Fig Tree Cursed
Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Very rarely has Jesus cursed anything. It seems like a rare day, said one of his disciples.
But it is clear that Jesus likes fruitful trees. And he's, perhaps telling us to live fruitful lives, the disciple; said along with some other followers.
Jesus Cried over the City?
When Jesus had earlier approached Jerusalem and had seen the city, he wept over 'Jerusalem" and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
"The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
They seem very prophetic, though we do not really know the future.
Exclusive!!
High Priests Speak Out!
In an exclusive interview with our own correspondent Krosstiana Hamanpoor, Chief Priests of the Temple of Jerusalem, Annas and his son-in-law Caiaphas, openly expressed displeasure at the rising popularity of Jesus.
"It is shameless, the way he is allowing people to treat him like a king", they complained.
"'Blessed is the 'king' who comes in the name of the Lord', were the shouts of the people. How can they call him a king? And why did he not tell them to stop? Is he a simple preacher? Or is he a King?", they asked.
"Did you know what he said when the Pharisees asked him to stop his disciples from praising him as 'king' yesterday? Jesus said, " if they (disciples) keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
"Does it mean he is so great and so divine, that even the stones of Jerusalem will praise him? What is he thinking of himself? Who does he think he is?"
Our correspondent asked them why it is making them upset when it is no serious crime if any of your followers praise you, with whatever name they wish.
"This is exactly what we should not permit," High Priest Annas replied. "This Jesus is a definite troublemaker. He is arousing people against us. He should be stopped. He's a fraud. He's a fake King, and he's even making himself into God. Completely against Jewish customs. It is blasphemy"!
"In the Torah, it is written in the book of Numbers that 'God is not man', and in the book of Isaiah, the prophet said, 'God is everlasting'. So, how can Jesus, a mere man, a son of a carpenter, be everlasting? He is not even half my age", asked Annas.
Caiphas laughed and added, "Son of that carpenter Joseph? In fact, that's a joke. That is a question all of Nazareth, his own town, is asking".
But Annas interrupted him and said, "As good priests, we are not casting aspersions on his parentage. Let that be between that carpenter and his wife. We are against this fraudster for other stronger and religious reasons. We cannot accept his condemnation of our teachings, insulting us in front of crowds, and even making statements contrary to the law of Moses. That is not acceptable".
Öur correspondent asked what harm a mere teacher can do if people just call him a king. The real rulers - Herod the King of Judea, and Caeser, the Emperor of Rome Empire - may not even care what this carpenter's son or the so-called teacher can do.
"We are going to take action if they don't. As responsible high priests of the temple, we have the authority to ask the Roman law and order officials to stop this man's fake teachings. Jewish law is enough to condemn this man for blasphemy", they said.
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Elsewhere, the city is abuzz with many activities due to the Passover and the Festival of the Unleavened Bread.
Some intelligence reports suggest that there could be a danger to Jesus' life.
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MY TWO DENARII WORTH
Column by Religious and Political Analyst
Prof. Eliezer ben Ahimelech
Hebrew Etymologist, Curator of the Israeli Archives
Expert in Jewish History and Language,
Holding the Baruch ben Neriah Chair at University of Jerusalem
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We regret this Column is not being published today. Professor Eliezer has not sent in, his commentary, as he is currently attending a high-level meeting of the Sanhedrin to discuss city's arrangements for Passover and the Festival of the Unleavened Bread.
Also attending the Sanhedrin meeting are two high-ranking Jewish Officials, Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man in Jerusalem.
It is learnt from reliable sources, that both are showing their liking for Jesus, but have not expressed it to the media.
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