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CHAPTER II Jesus at the Temple
The Feast of Tabernacles plunged into its vitality, moved by unseen leverage, both stranger and local caught up in the flow of something larger than differences.
Although he was not there among the crowds, in general there was widespread whispering about Jesus. Religionists watched for him muttering, "Where is that man?" Some said, "He is harmless." Others, "No, he deceives people." No one would publicly say anything good about him for fear of the priests and elders of the Jews.
Two days into the festivities, Jesus abruptly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. He made his way through the dust-charged streets of Jerusalem. His presence galvanized the crowds. He strode confidently into the Temple courts, mounted a few steps and began to address them. Those present were amazed and offended at his presumed authority, at his command of himself. "How came this man to such learning and erudition having never formally studied?"
Arguments ensued. Shouting back and forth. Jesus responded aggressively, "My teaching is not my own! What you hear me speak comes directly from my Father.
"You are hypocritical and self-seeking. You lawyers who self-righteously advocate the standard of law, why do you wish to kill me? Moses gave you the law, yet not one of you keeps the law. Moses actually spoke of me, so why do you wish to kill me?"
Some of the people of Jerusalem were aware of the threat to Jesus' life at this Feast of Tabernacles. They knew the religious authorities wished to see him dead. Yet here he was, speaking publicly--no one attempting to stop him. Some wondered if the authorities had actually concluded that he is the Messiah. Then others said, "But we know where this man is from. When Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from." Then Jesus raised his voice and said, "You think you know me because you know where I grew up?" He paused for a moment. "But the truth is that you are completely ignorant. You have no notion of the place from which I came." His hearers looked at him strangely. Didn't he come from Nazareth? "I am not here on my own. I was sent! He who sent me is true, and you do not know him either. I know him. I know him because I AM from him." At this, some in the crowd became enraged. How dare he make himself as God! Faces contorted, eyes bulged, much jostling and surging. Some gestured as though to seize him, but none laid a hand on him. His time, as he would put it, had not come. In the midst of all this violence and agitation, one thoughtful soul observed, "When the Christ comes, how can he do more miraculous things than this man?" "Do not concern yourselves overmuch," Jesus continued. "I will be with you for only a short time longer, and then I go back to the one who sent me." Sharp contention. "You will look for me, but you will not find me. Where I am going, you cannot come." "Yes, Prophet!" someone yelled. "Just where do you think you will go that we cannot find you?" "To a place inaccessible to hearts of darkness." Jesus' presence in the Temple and the things that he said were reported to the chief priests. Immediately they sent the Temple guards to arrest him. When they arrived, he was gone.
Five days passed before Jesus appeared again. Finally, on the last and biggest day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood once again on the Temple steps. The people gathered to hear him. There were many who hated him. But there were some who loved him and believed, even among the members of the ruling Jewish body, the Sanhedrin. Others were merely curious. To these assembled, Jesus cried in a loud voice, "If you are thirsty, come to me and drink. Believe in me and, as the Scripture says, 'out of you shall flow streams of living water.'" "Streams of living water. Streams of living water." The words echoed around, reverberating off the walls and casements of the Temple, his voice powerful, clear and strong. This was not the voice of a confident, self-possessed twelve-year-old boy instructing wizened old men; this was a voice impossible to ignore, a voice that arrested the attention of all who heard it. "Streams of living water," echoing one last faint time around the perimeters of the Temple. The meaning of this escaped me until later when I learned that he had meant the Spirit. Those who believed were later to receive and understand the powerful presence of such water.
With all the commotion surrounding Jesus in the Temple, the guards were sent by the chief priests to arrest him. They came arrayed in military costumes, impressive, intimidating. The crowd parted to make way. Surging to the front, they stopped. Jesus ceased speaking and looked at them. He said nothing to them directly and, after a brief pause, resumed his discourse. The soldiers stood as if transfixed, not knowing what to do and, therefore, doing nothing. In a few moments Jesus paused again, and again caught the eyes of their captain. Nothing. No movement to arrest. No arrest. At length, the captain turned and with low-voiced command took his cohort and returned empty-handed to the priests. "Why didn't you bring him?" they demanded. The guards looked at one another and at their leader. The captain shrugged and said, "No man ever spoke the way this man speaks." "You fools! Has he deceived you also? Look at us! Have any of these rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in him? Do you see any member of the Sanhedrin here following after this man? No! This mob that knows nothing of the law--they are all children of Belial!" Then to the stunned surprise of those present, one member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus, stepped forward, staff in hand. Rapping the end of his staff against the pavement, he demanded attention. "Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him?" The response was silent shock. When it subsided, Ananias spoke, sarcastically asking, "Rabbi, are you also from Galilee?" This was a condescending insult. The region of Galilee was not looked upon favorably; it was a part of the culture of the inhabitants of Jerusalem to look upon Galileans as inferior. "Look into it, esteemed colleague, and you will discover that no prophet comes out of Galilee." Nicodemus' trained mind immediately thought of the words of Isaiah, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan --the people walking in darkness have seen a great light" Still, their insult stung. I have met him! He is not just a man! Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." The thoughts of Nicodemus ran together with God's thoughts. But he realized their ignorance of these scriptures was deliberate. Then each one went to his own home, each with his outrage, each with murder in his heart. Nicodemus was afraid.
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