CHAPTER II.
THE Jewish Passover was at hand, and the Nazarene was in Jerusalem.
A few evenings after His arrival, Nicodemus, full of excitement, sought out Lazarus once more.
"Hast thou heard the strange news, Lazarus?"
"Nay, I was weary and went not into Jerusalem this morn," replied his friend.
"Surely the thing was strange indeed that happened. This Nazarene, who, since His arrival, doth seem to drive mad all Jerusalem, did make a scourge of cords, and chased from the Temple all those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and poured out the changers' money and overthrew the tables; and His face, they say, did glow with wrath that kindled as if with fire; yet none withstood Him, and none durst speak. Thou wouldst have laughed, Lazarus, to see the frightened little usurers, sprawling on the floor to grasp the coins that fell hither and thither, and how they quarrelled when one took the other's money, or several darted at the same coin. Oh, their oaths were awful to hear; yet, for all, they durst not stay, so mightily He scourged them. 'Take these hence, take these things hence,' He cried. 'Make not My Father's house an house of merchandise.' Then He said again: 'It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it
8
