Sign of the Cleansing of the Temple
St. John ii. 13 - 22

by C. M. S. Mason
illus "The Ceansing of the Temple" by Bassano

VII

Since His twelfth year, He year by year went up
To the temple with his kinsfolk. But this year
The Lord of the temple to His Temple came,
Messias before men to manifest !

And, worthy of Messias, sure, a pile
More vast, magnificent, costly in detail
Of marble. gold, rare stone and carvenwork
Than any building earth sustains to-day !

Little knew Herod he had raised a palace
Greater than that of Solomon ; ---for why ?
Greater than Solomon should go in and out,
Should teach and heal within these holy precincts,
Should there first utter words, sounding to-day
To His kingdom's utmost verge, words of our life !
The King had come to the house prepared for Him

124
125

Of His Father, through Herod's liberal care ---
Unworthy he to know grace laid on him !

All that vast reach of cloisters, hemming in
The outer court of the temple, searched His eye ;
Corinthian pillars, white, innumerous,
Of purest marble, delicately wrought,
Of height surpassing and majestic grace,
Reaching toward the heavens, --- fitting were these
For His Father's house, made ready for the Son.

But what of them who occupied their business
In those fair chambers ? The Lord of the house hath come :
What meaneth then that lowing in His ears,
Lowing of cattle, innocent cry of lambs,
Cooing of turtle doves in sacred place,
And, worse offense, that clink of many coins
Changed at the dealer's tables ? HE is come
That should come ! Scourge of small cords He grasps,
And this slight weapon, plied with burning zeal,
Sufficeth all the horde to drive before Him :---
The lusty butcher used to handle beasts
Immense and furious, money-changers' greed
Stronger than ten strong men, --- of what avail
That any should resist the arm of God
Wielding His lightest weapon ? Forth they go,

126

An ignominious crew, nor dare to seize
On coin or beast of all their greedy store :
One Man drove forth the money - getting crowd,
Their beasts and they quailing before the Judge !
And John, who saw all, held the sight in his heart,
And knew thenceforth, Wrath of the Lamb, how dread !

"Make not my Father's house a house of sales !"
Cried He whose house it was. And all at once
The disciples bethought them of that word of prophet,
"The zeal of thine house shall eat me up !" and knew
With sudden rapture, sign of the Messiah !
Scared in their pride, the Jews, the priests stand by ;
They see a sign, they know it for a sign,
But have not grace of truth sign to receive.
As cobwebs swept He specious pleas aside :
'Tis well that beasts for sacrifice be close
At hand, lest the peoples' zeal to offer cool ;'
'They come from far, here let them change the coins
they bring, for pieces meet for temple dues :'
'Why hinder we the ignorant, hither come
To do God service ?' None of this they plead;
Christ's word about a place of merchandise
Had found them out ; they, too, were traffickers,

127

And knew the rebuke for them ; not for naught
Had they afforded all these stalls to merchants !
Swift to the mark goes every word of His,
And, cowed, they ask for sign that they might know
By what authority He did these things.

"A sign ?" saith He : "Destroy ye this fair temple,
In three days I will raise it up again !"
They, hearing, understood not ; how could they
Receive that doctrine of the holy place
God made in each man for His habitation ?
"Full six and forty years," they said, "this temple
Was building ! Wilt thou raise it in three days ! "
But of the temple of His body spake He :
When on the third day He raised Him from the dead,
The Eleven remembered how He said this thing,
And all the more believed and knew the truth.

Men say, "Now love we but our fellow-men,
And all the secret know we of Christ's grace ;
A passion moved Him, all-consuming love
For the weak and helpless, pity for the lost :
Let us but burn with passion for suffering men,
And so are we disciples of the Christ,
Name we His Name, or not, as pleaseth us !"

128

But, as through same gray skies breaks sudden light
And glorifies a space the common earth,
So through the dull complexion of the days
He walked with men as Man, sudden brake forth
A glory --- the master-passion of our Master !---
"My Father's business" and "My Father's house,"
"My Father worketh hitherto," and, "I
And my Father are one, "--- as when cloak blown
Aside by wind reveals rich garb beneath,
Such glimpse get we, through words He spoke by times,
Of passion serene, enthusiasm meek,
Ideal, buring zeal, in heart of Christ :
"My Father,"--- lo, fresh spring of all His days !
Sole Origin and End of all His ways ;
And for His Father's love of men He died !
"But He, too, loves us ?" Yea, verily, for He
And the Father, One ! How should He save us else ?