d to the twelve men.

"This tree is a good picture of the religion of the priests. It has many
leaves and looks strong. But there is not one bit of fruit on it." He
pointed to the Temple above them. The sun shone brilliantly on Mount
Zion. It was a sight to inspire every pilgrim who climbed the Jericho
road. "The Temple is beautiful. There are many priests. Our Law is
righteous. Moses and the Prophets were great teachers. But our religion
is all fine appearance! It is producing nothing! Our priests and rulers
obey the Romans. The Temple is filled with people who spend their time
selling bullocks and exchanging money!"

The disciples realized that Jesus had been deeply offended by the things
he had seen in the Temple the evening before. Jesus continued in a
quieter tone: "There was once a man who had a fig tree like this one
planted in his vineyard. He came to see if it was producing fruit, but
there was none to be found. There were no figs the next year either.
When he found none the third year, he said to his gardener: 'That tree
has not given us any fruit in three years. Cut it down. It is just
taking up valuable ground.'

"But the gardener said: 'Let me give it one more chance. Let me dig
round it and put manure on it. If it does not bear fruit next year, we
will cut it down.'" With great force Jesus said: "Our nation has had
more than enough time to show results! God will judge us for failing
him! Let this fig tree teach you that God will condemn all religion
that does not produce real fruit, no matter how fine it may look!"

Jesus' voice struck dread into the disciples. He sounded like Jeremiah
pronouncing doom on the city of Jerusalem. And he had said there was
work for him at the Temple! What did he intend to do? As the disciples
followed Jesus through the Valley of Kidron, they were uneasy.

Jesus strode through the Golden Gate into the Temple without looking to
the right or to the left. He walked through Solomon's Porch into the
courtyard. Gentiles were allowed to come this far, but only Jews could
go farther. Several gates led through a second wall into another court.
Over each gate hung a great sign:

NO FOREIGNER IS ALLOWED
INSIDE THE WALL
SURROUNDING THE SANCTUARY.
WHOEVER IS CAUGHT WILL BE PUT TO DEATH!
HE ALONE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE!

One whole side of the outer yard was filled with stamping bulls and
sheep. The bawling of the cattle, the stirring