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 of the nervous sheep, and the fluttering of pigeons in cages piled high on the ground made great confusion. Even this early in the morning dust filled the air over the courtyard.
High above the Temple area rose four stone towers. Andrew shaded his eyes and looked up. Steel armor glinted in the sunlight. From this lookout, called the Tower of Antonia, Pilate's Roman soldiers kept keen watch over everything that happened in the Temple.
But it was not the tethered animals or the bustling crowds that caught Jesus' attention. Not even the Roman fort interested him after the first glance. What grated most disagreeably upon him was the bickering of the priests. Even above the noise the disciples could hear the priests arguing with pilgrims who needed an animal to sacrifice.
Jesus and the Twelve stopped to watch one priest. As they listened, Peter saw his Master's anger rising. A Galilean had brought a young bull all the way from his home. To the disciples he looked like a farmer who did not have much to live on. Such men usually sacrificed a sheep or a pigeon. But this man must have wanted to give a better sacrifice. He was watching the priest examine the legs of his bullock. Finally the priest straightened up.
"No! This beast will not do."
"But I brought this bull all the way from Galilee," protested the farmer.
"I can't help that," answered the priest. "He is not good enough."
"Not good enough!" cried the man in dismay. "That is the best bull I ever raised!"
"All right, then; look!" The priest pointed to a small cut on the rear leg of the bullock.