Chief priests and elders Matthew 21:23 Mark 14:27 Luke 20 John 12.42

 It was Passover week and things were becoming very difficult in Jerusalem.  On top of all the usual problems which the city experiences every year when thousands of people descend on the temple for the feast ( the crime rates rocket and there is never enough accommodation for everyone ) we were also dealing with the ' phenomenon of  The Prophet'.   We had been keeping tabs on Jesus for quite a while as his reputation as a rabble rouser and an insurgent increased.   He now had hundreds of followers, all of whom were swarming around the city.   Our informants had told us that he had been talking about Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,  the temple being torn down and a new kingdom coming - all of which sounded somewhat dangerous.   

On the one hand this was a man who was clearly charismatic and could command a crowd.  On the other hand he was a peasant from Nazareth with no access to weapons for an army or money to buy political power.   The council and the elders were pretty divided about how we should deal with him.  Some said his teachings made sense and were based in peaceful principles.   Others were adamant that he would bring the full fury of the Romans down on us, or that worse, he could indeed raise some sort of rebel army and try to take the city.

 Two days ago he had arrived in town in some sort of ceremonial procession - you could hear the chanting of the crowds right across the city.  The Pharisees and Saducees were livid - they understood that people were worshipping Jesus as some sort of Messiah.  And then we started to hear rumours that Jesus had raised someone from the dead!  At this point we all agreed that things had gone far enough.   The council met and we decided to go and confront Jesus, find out what he was plotting and see if we could find evidence to arrest him there and then.

As we were meeting we received news that Jesus had been in the temple and had gone berzerk - turning over tables and yelling and shouting.  Apparently he had whipped some of the stallholders out of the place and denounced the selling of merchandise and offerings.  The temple authorities were outraged and came to us demanding action.   We were able to assure them that Jesus was already in our sights and that we were planning to intercept him the very next day.  The sense of anger in the room was palpable,  Enough was enough.

So the next day we all made our way to the temple courts where Jesus was known to spend the mornings ' teaching'.  When we arrived he was standing on the steps with a huge crowd around him holding forth about various aspects of the character of God.   He spoke like a Rabbi - although we all knew that he had had no formal training as such.  Eli, our elected spokesman, pushed through the crowd somewhat and spoke up loudly , interrupting the flow of Jesus's talk.  ' You speak as though you have some authority to teach sir, but who gave you this authority?  Did you sit at the feet of a Rabbi and learn these things?  Are you in any way qualified to speak to these people as though you know the truth?'

Jesus stopped speaking and looked at Eli.  He smiled.  He didnt seem at all annoyed at being interrupted or perplexed by the question.   He closed his eyes and was quiet for a minute or so.  The crowd was silent, waiting to see what he would say.  I must confess I felt a bit uncomfortable.  We were pretty sure we were going to be able to prove this man was a charlatan, but in the silence I suddenly started to doubt if he really was.

Jesus spoke.   He said ' I'll tell you what; you answer me this question and then I'll answer yours.   You know John the Baptiser?  When he was baptising people did someone teach him to do it?  Was he qualified to offer people cleansing from their sins?  Or was he acting on the instruction of God Almighty and being obedient to the Holy Spirit?'

The crowd murmured and started to talk among themselves.  Eli looked at us with a look of panic on his face.  He made his way back over to where we were standing and we huddled together to consult.  Gad pointed out that if we said John had been acting on his own behalf the people would riot as they held the Baptiser to be a prophet.   I said that if we conceded that he was obeying a divine prompt then Jesus would say ' then why didn't you believe and follow him?'   We were stuck between a rock and a hard place and Jesus knew it.  Finally Eli spoke up and said  '  I'm afraid we are not in a position to answer that question'.   Jesus smiled at him and said '  and I'm afraid I'm not in a position to answer yours'.   Then he turned back to the crowd and continued his talk.

Most of the council members dispersed crossly.  They really don't like being outwitted by a peasant from the foothills.  I know they will be away planning how to get the better of him next time.  But I decided to hang around for a while and listen some more.  Jesus really is a very commanding presence.  He has an aura about him which is difficult to describe.  A presence.  An authority - yes.   Something deep inside me would love to throw off these robes of council and join Jesus on the road.  I have a feeling it would be rather an adventure.  But of course that is a ridiculous notion ,  My family, friends, colleagues would all think I had gone completely crazy.  No, I shall just have to get a grip and remember my position.  We cant really believe that people can be raised from the dead can we?  I mean that is just absurd.