ll
the Hosanna song went on.

[Illustration: The entry into Jerusalem.]

At last, in the midst of the jubilant throng, Jesus appeared, clad in a
long garment of gray, over which was cast a flowing robe. His face was
composed and pensive. His long black hair and beard surrounded
features somewhat swarthy from the rays of the hot sun, and he rode on
the side of the ass's colt that seemed almost too small to support his
weight.

John, the beloved disciple, dressed in green raiment with a red mantle,
led the little ass, carrying in his hand a long pilgrim staff. The mob
pressed tumultuously around, singing and crying: "Hosanna to the Son of
David!" Jesus blessed them as he rode through their midst. After
passing the house of Pilate he suddenly dismounted. Then Jesus
advanced to the front of the temple. The hosannas died away as he
contemplated the busy scene. There were the priests busily engaged
with the money-changers. Nathanael, chief orator of the Sanhedrin,
stood conspicuous among the chattering throng. There were baskets with
pigeons for sale as sacrifices. There were the tables of the dealers.
Buying and selling, haggling and bargaining were in full swing in the
market-place.

For a moment Jesus, who was above the average height, and whose mien
was dignified and commanding, stood as if amazed and indignant, then
suddenly burst out upon the astonished throng of priests and merchants,
with the following protest: "What see I here? Shall my Father's house
be thus dishonored? Is this the house of God, or is it a market-place?
How can the strangers who come from the land of the Gentiles to worship
God perform their devotions in this tumult of usury? And you," he
continued, advancing a step toward the priests, who stared at him in
amazement, "You priests, guardians of the temple, can you see this
abomination and permit it to continue? Woe be unto you! He who
searches the heart knows why you encourage such disorder."

The crowd, silent now, watched with eager interest the money-changers
and priests, who but imperfectly understanding what had been said to
them, stared at the intruder.

"Who can this man be?" they asked.

And then from the lips of all the multitude there went up the
simultaneous response, as if the whole throng had but one voice: "It is
the great prophet from Nazareth, in Galilee!"

Jesus, then moving forward into the midst of the astonished merchants
in the temple, exclaimed, in wor