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The Fifth Lesson: The Foundation of the Work.991
The brokers, money-changers and merchants fled before His mighty
charge, leaving their scattered money over the floors of the Temple. They
dared not return, for Jesus had aroused the wrath of the people against
them, and a cry arose for the old practice of protecting the sacred place
against such invasion. But the traffickers sought out the High-priests and
complained bitterly of this annulment of their “privileges” and “franchises,”
for which they had paid so highly. And the High-priests, being compelled
to refund the price paid for the concessions, were much wrought up over
the matter, and then and there swore vengeance against the Master who
had dared interfere with their system of what the world now calls by the
suggestive name of “graft.” And this vengeance and hatred waxed stronger
each moment, and was to a great extent the moving factor in the schemes
and intrigues which two years later resulted in the frightful scene on Calvary.
The succeeding months were filled with wanderings up and down the
land, spreading the work and making new converts and followers. Jesus did
not take the position of a great preacher at this time, but seemed to be
rather a teacher of the few whom He gathered around Him at each point and
place. He observed but few ceremonies, that of Baptism being the principal
one, and which, as we have shown, was an Essenic rite having an occult and
mystical significance. The students of the New Testament may read between
its leaves the history of the ministry of Jesus at this time, noting the working
of the leaven in the mass of the Jewish mind.
About this time Jesus was sorely distressed at the terrible news which
reached Him regarding the fate of his cousin, John the Baptist, who had been
His Forerunner. The Baptist had dared to thrust his preachings and rebukes
into the very precincts of a corrupt court, and had brought down upon his
head the natural consequences of his rashness. Herod had thrust him into a
gloomy dungeon and there were rumors of a worse fate yet in store for him.
And that fate soon overtook him. Refusing the chance of life and liberty
that was promised him if he would but break his vows of asceticism and
indulge the passionate desires of a royal princess,—turning away from the