ank. Judas must be right.
They urged Jesus to leave Jerusalem immediately, but not until evening
did Jesus lead them back to the Hill of Olives.

"At least he is not going to risk being arrested by staying in the city
at night," sighed Peter in relief. "The Roman soldiers will never find
us here unless someone tells them where we are."

None of the disciples slept soundly that night. Again Jesus spent most
of the night in prayer. The men rose early, glad to be rid of the
discomfort of the cold ground, but dreading to enter Jerusalem again.

Jesus did not seek the crowds in the market place; he walked straight to
the Temple. The money-changers had not come back; no animals stamped
their hoofs in the courtyard. James glanced up at the Tower of Antonia.
Did the guard know that Jesus was the man who had caused the riot
yesterday?

Jesus paid no attention to guards or priests. He sat down near the gate
where the Jews entered the inner court to put gifts into the Temple
offering box. Within an hour the rumor spread through Jerusalem that he
was in the Temple. People began to come in great numbers. Scribes,
Pharisees, and Roman soldiers were there too. After Jesus had been
teaching awhile one of the scribes interrupted. He lived on the Temple
grounds.

"What I want to know," he demanded, "is what right you have to call the
Temple of God your Father's house? How do you dare act as you do?"

"I will ask you a question," replied Jesus. "If you answer it, I will
tell you what right I have to act as I do. Where did John the Baptizer
get his right to preach? From God in heaven, or was he given it by some
man, perhaps a priest?"

_From God, of course_, thought all the people instantly.

The scribe knew what the people believed. He reflected, _If I say, "From
heaven," then he will ask us why we did not believe John's word. But if
I say, "From men"--no, that will never do! These people all think John
came from God!_ After a long pause, the scribe said, "I do not know."

"All right, then," said Jesus. "That is why you cannot understand where
I get the right to act as I do! Listen to a story I shall tell you. A
man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a wine press, and
built a guard tower to protect it. Then he leased his vineyard to some
farmers and went away. At harvest-time he sent a servant to collect the
rent, but the farmers beat the man and sent him away with nothing. The
owner sent another servant, but the