The Man from the Desert
I WAS A stranger in Jerusalem. I had come to the Holy City to behold
the great temple, and to sacrifice upon the altar, for my wife had given
twin sons to my tribe.
And after I had made my offering, I stood in the portico of them temple
looking down upon the money-changers and those who sold doves for sacrifice,
and listening to the great noise in the court.
And as I stood there came of a sudden a man into the midst of the money-changers
and those who sold doves.
He was a man of majesty, and He came swiftly.
In His hand He held a rope of goat's hide; and He began to overturn the
tables of the money-changers and to beat the pedlars of birds with the
rope.
And I heard Him saying with a loud voice, "Render these birds unto the
sky which is their nest."
Men and women fled from before His face, and He moved amongst them as
the whirling wind moves on the sad-hills.
All this came to pass in but a moment, and then the court of the Temple
was emptied of the money-changers. Only the man stood there alone, and
His followers stood at a distance.
Then I turned my face and I saw another man in the portico of the temple.
And I walked towards him and said, "Sir, who is this man who stands alone,
even like another temple?" And he answered me, "This is Jesus of Nazareth,
a prophet who has appeared of late in Galilee. Here in Jerusalem all men
hate Him."
And I said, "My heart was strong enough to be with His whip, and yielding
enough to be at His feet."
And Jesus turned towards His followers who were awaiting Him. But before
He reached them, three of the temple doves flew back, and one alighted
upon His left shoulder and the other two at His feet. And he touched each
one tenderly. Then He walked on, and there were leagues in every step
of His steps.
Now tell me, what power had He to attack and disperse hundreds of men
and women without opposition? I was told that they all hate Him, yet no
one stood before Him on that day. Had He plucked out the fangs of hate
on His way to the court of the temple?
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