frown, and
their enthusiasm melted away. The shouting stopped.

"What is he going to do?" murmured Andrew. Jesus turned his back on the
whole disgusting scene and walked out of the Temple.

"Why has he gone?" everyone asked. Only the disciples followed Jesus.
The people scattered to the places where they lodged, wondering what
would happen on the morrow.

"Why was he angry?" asked Andrew.

"I don't know," answered Peter.

"There are many things I should like to know," observed Judas.

There was deep feeling in Peter's voice when he spoke again. "There is
one thing certain: very soon we shall know when he intends to bring in
the new Kingdom. The people are for us. Perhaps tomorrow will tell!"

[Illustration]

15. DISPUTE IN THE TEMPLE

Dusk on the Hill of Olives was quiet and restful after the excitement of
the day. The gentle wind in the olive trees, which grew thickly in the
Garden of Gethsemane, was so different from the noise and smell of the
Temple courtyard!

While the disciples slept, Jesus went deeper into the Garden, where he
could pray alone. When he knelt on the rocky ground, the moon, almost
full, was just rising in the east. But when Jesus finally returned to
the Twelve and wrapped his coat around him to sleep, the moon was high
above, cold and white.

The sound of travelers on the road through the olive orchard awakened
Peter the next morning. The morning sunlight threw long shadows on the
ground. Between the trees Peter could see pilgrims passing along the
road. Jerusalem would be crowded this Passover season! For a moment
Peter could not remember why he felt so excited when he awoke. Then the
events of the day before flooded into his memory. He stood up stiffly.
He had been cold all night; the hard ground was a poor bed for men who
would soon be ruling the gentiles! Jesus stood up and stretched.

"Come, my followers!" he called. "There is work to do in the Temple!"

The men arose and walked down the slope to a small spring that trickled
from under a rock. When they had washed, Jesus led them to the road that
crossed the Kidron Valley toward the Golden Gate of the Temple. All the
men were hungry.

Along the road they found no food for sale. Everyone who lived outside
the city walls bought food in the market of Jerusalem. Just above the
Kidron, a leafy tree stood beside the road.

"It is too early for figs," remarked Andrew. Jesus did not hear: he was
gazing at the tree. He turne