Final Confrontation (35 page)

“Motivation?” asked Zichri.

“The man is greedy beyond belief,” Shallah continued. “He has even stolen from the group’s treasury. I think he can be bought.”

Zichri considered the words for a moment. Just then another shout of “Hosanna!” could be heard echoing throughout the inner court. Zichri looked up resolutely. He placed his hand on Shallah’s shoulder.

“See to it,” he said. “As for charges brought against the Man, we shall have to meet with Caiaphas. I know he will want to move, but at the proper time. If we move too quickly the people will tear us to pieces.”

“Very well,” said Shallah. “I shall see to Judas.”

“And I shall see to Jesus,” said Zichri, smiling.

Berenius could only shake his head in utter disbelief at the vanity of humans. “And I shall see to all of you,” he said, vanishing to speak to Kara.

“GET THESE THINGS OUT OF HERE!”

Jesus’ words echoed throughout the Court of Gentiles where the moneychangers had set up their tables in order to sell sacrificial elements to pilgrims from all over the world. They were astonished to see Jesus for a second time turning over their tables and railing about the Temple being “My Father’s house!”

“I told you this is a place of prayer—not a place of commerce and thievery!”

The last of the moneychangers scrambled away as the crowds watched in astonishment. The priests, on the other hand, were amazed at His brazenness. Jesus dropped the whip and sat down.

The priests, huddled as usual, discussed what to do. Suddenly, Zichri emerged from the shadows, ready to confront Jesus for His behavior. It was one thing to enter the city and have a crowd of fools think He was a god. It was quite another thing for Him to come into the Temple and
act
like one.

“He is only providing the evidence we need,” said Zichri quietly to an aide, before moving over to Jesus. “Then we shall have Him.”

“Why not take Him now?” questioned the aide.

“Not now,” cautioned Zichri. “Not before the Passover. Be patient. Three more days and He shall never be heard from again!”

“Why is it your Lord insists on such drama?” asked Kara.

He was speaking to Gabriel, who had recently arrived at the Temple. Most of the higher ruling angels were beginning to descend upon Jerusalem. They all knew something out of the ordinary would happen during Passover. Gabriel turned to the angel who once served with him in Heaven.

“You speak of drama?” he asked. “Your master is the inventor of theatrics.”

“Perhaps you will find this latest drama amusing,” Kara sneered, looking at Zichri who had reached Jesus and was speaking to Him. “And deadly.”

“Listen here!” began Zichri. “By whose authority are You doing these things?”

The other priests grunted in agreement. Jesus looked up at the angry men who stood next to Him. Dressed in their dark garments, they looked every inch the part of leaders of the covenant. Yet Jesus knew what was in their hearts.

“And who gave You this authority?”

Jesus stood and brushed the dirt off His hands. He turned to the men and answered. “I’ll tell you the answer to that question, provided you first answer a question.”

The men looked at each other suspiciously. But they were not willing to let this chance slip past them and agreed to hear the question.

“Very well, Rabbi.” said Zichri, cautiously.

“The baptism of John,” said Jesus. “Was it from Heaven or was it from men?”

Zichri was dumbfounded. When one of the younger priests was about to blurt out an answer he silenced him. The priests huddled together to discuss their answer.

“He’s a crafty one,” said Zichri. “We cannot answer Him. If we say John’s baptism was from Heaven, He will condemn us for not having believed. But if we say it was from men, the people who regard John as a prophet will be against us!”

Zichri finally approached Jesus with his answer.

“We cannot tell You.”

“Then neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things,” answered Jesus.

“Good question,” said Gabriel, who had watched the encounter. “Wouldn’t you agree, Kara?”

Kara gave Gabriel an icy stare.

“Riddles are not going to save Him, archangel!” he fumed and vanished.

Gabriel could not help but laugh.

“Don’t go away just yet,” continued Jesus. “Let Me tell you a story.”

The priests agreed to hear Him.

“Tell Me what you think,” He continued. “There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

’I will not,’ the rude boy answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

Then the father went to the other son and asked him to go into the vineyard and work as well. Now this boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“What is the trick here?” asked Zichri suspiciously.

“No trick,” said Jesus.

“The first boy,” someone answered. “Obviously”.

Jesus nodded His head and said to them, “I’m telling you that tax collectors, prostitutes, and others whom you despise are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you. You see, John came to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes and those whom you abhor believed.”

Incensed, the priests began to walk away. Jesus stopped them one more time to relate another story.

“There was a landowner who planted a large vineyard. He fully developed the property. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and even built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a long journey. His plan was to send his servants to collect the fruit when it came into season.

“But the tenants abused his servants; they beat one, they killed another one, and stoned a third. So he sent other servants to them. Only this time he sent more along. But they, too, were mistreated. Finally, he decided to send his own son, believing they would respect the owner’s son.”

Jesus glanced at the cold eyes watching Him.

“Go on,” said Zichri.

“Instead, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. If we kill him we can share in his inheritance!’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now here is My question: what will the owner do when he returns?”

“He will bring those ingrates to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will find other tenants who will respect his property and serve him.”

Jesus asked, “Have you never read in the Scriptures where it is written, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’”

“What about it?” asked Zichri, becoming increasingly agitated.

“Listen to Me,” continued Jesus. “The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will respect its rule. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Zichri looked coldly at Jesus.

“You are speaking of us, of course,” he said.

“I say we take Him here and now,” someone whispered.

“No,” said Zichri, turning away from Jesus. “His time will come. But not here and not now unless you wish to deal with these fools who fawn upon Him.”

He watched as Jesus made His way across the court, moving around the tables He had turned over. “His time will soon be over and He will be forgotten like all the others who have come to this Temple to disturb it.”

“Master?”

Jesus turned to see a party of Herodians standing nearby. These men, political allies of the Herods, kept a wary eye on anything that might disturb the peace of the realm—and usually this meant the Temple. They kept their power through bribery and cunning, and had become increasingly interested in this miracle-working Nazarene. Some of them had been conferring with the Pharisees, and Zichri was nodding vigorously to the lead official Achish, one of Herod’s envoys to Jerusalem. Achish ambled over to where Jesus stood.

“Greetings, good Rabbi,” Achish said, bowing his head slightly.

Jesus said nothing to the man.

“I don’t understand this hostility toward You,” he began. “We know You speak the truth and that You teach God’s ways. We also know You are partial to no man or group.”

Jesus listened silently.