CHAPTER 45
The Gospel According to St Barabbas
17
Mary’s band, now grown great, returned to Judea. As it was Passover, they stopped and went up to Jerusalem.
18
And the disciple called Barabbas saw the temple. He was angry and said, my lady, we must cast out all those that sell and buy in the temple, and overthrow the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sell doves.
19
But Mary answered, It is too late to make that place clean. Is it not written that My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves? The time is coming when ye shall see the words of My father borne out.
20
Now the priests heard that Mary was in Jerusalem, and they sought to trap Her. Since they were jealous they believed Barabbas when he said he was jealous and would betray Mary.
21
He led them to a garden on the Mount of Olives where the Sicarii lay waiting. In the fight Barabbas lost his ear, but he thought it a small price to kill those who would betray his lady.
22
After the Sicarii broke out of the city there was uproar. Every man was turned against every other as one brother backed the priests and another, the Sicarii.
23
And the wise remembered the prophets’ warning, that every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation.
23
The Etruscans lost all patience with the Jews and they laid siege unto Jerusalem.
24
This was the beginning of the people’s tribulation, yet only when they saw the temple destroyed did they remember the words of Zacharias.