The pivotal point of Holy week (according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke) imagined from an unusual angle. I suspect the anger of the Temple traders would have been expressed far more colourfully - but this was written to be used as a mini-sermon and even then, I sensed that, when delivered last week, the final line did give rise to a certain amount of mild shock!
Credit: Image found on
'Word On Fire' website
'I've always loathed those
Galileans:
Rough lot from up north.
Uncouth, stroppy. Ought to
stay in their own territory.
And this one: well, he
came from Nazareth.
Nazareth! I ask you. Anything
good ever come out of there?
You could tell by his
accent.
Not pure like those brung
up in Jerusalem.
Yes! Even us temple
traders talk nicer than that.'
'It was trouble from the
moment he appeared.
He sort of strode in
With a glint in his eye
and his jaw set.
Came determined to make
trouble if you ask me.'
'Now, our family have been Temple traders for generations.
Father, his father and his
father before him
And maybe even before
that.
Each of us handing on the
pitch from father to son
And each of us building up
the contacts with the animal breeders
So we knew, and still
know, we sell the very purest
Of animals for sacrifice.
Not a single blemish on
our animals!
A bit pricey but as
perfect as you'd find
anywhere in the Temple
courtyards.
So we've built up our
reputation over the years - ain't we?
And so - got a right to be
there, we have
And I’d fight anyone who
says we ‘aven’t.'
'So there we are, me and my
brother
On one of the best-likely
trading days of the year.
Passover only days away
and the wealthy ones
streaming in anxious to buy
the best possible sacrifice.
Well, yes! Granted we had
pushed the prices up a bit:
Ok, maybe - a big bit
But who wouldn't. Common
sense ain't it?
'Cos it's not like this
all year round
So we have to make the
money to provide against leaner times.
And here we were, looking
forward to a really profitable day.'
'Then, as I said, in he
strides
With a whip in his hands.
Rough sort of weapon really
Looked as if he'd made it
himself.
And blow me
He starts to thrash the
cattle and the sheep -
All our beautiful stock.
Can you imagine the chaos?
The bleating, the
bellowing - and the muck.
Terrified animals
everywhere.
In no time, the floor as
slippery as you can imagine
The cows slithered, the
sheep crashed into each other.
I got in the way of an
enraged cow
and that damnable Nazarene's
whip.
Just kept laying about the
animals - and us if we got in the way.'
'Bit of a nutter, I reckon
- and he certainly made us mad
And the din. Shouting all
round; obscenities, oaths -
Not quite the language of
the temple.
Then above the racket
His strange Galilean voice
rang out
'You have dared to make my
Father's house a den of thieves’.'
'The very idea. Us.
Thieves.
I’d have liked to have
smashed his head
against one of the Temple
pillars.
But he was wild, wild,
wild
So I wasn't going to
tangle with him
And anyway, I needed to
get out and find the animals he'd driven away.'
'Personally, I blame the
temple authorities, we pay ‘em enough.
Should have their guards
at the porches
More alert to spotting
troublemakers
Although in truth, I'm not
sure anyone could have held him down.
Manic!'
'Lost four beautiful lambs
And two totally
unblemished calves that day.
It'll take weeks to
recover that money.
Just thinking about it
makes me mad again.
That
blaspheming so-and-so. Deserves to be damned-well crucified.' More Holy Week and Easter material at The Cross and Cosmos Lent, Holy Week and Easter collection
