Jerusalem was full.
The streets teemed with people from all over: men, women, the elderly, and
children. It was a day of worship, and the temple stood as the undisputed center of
national life. The chants could be heard from afar. The smoke from the sacrifices
rose ceaselessly. Everything seemed to indicate that God was pleased.But Jeremiah saw something else.He walked through the crowd, his face covered by his cloak. No one recognized him
yet.No one suspected that, among them, walked the man who was about to utter
words that would shake the city.
He stopped in front of one of the temple
doors.He looked at her for a long time.
Enormous stones. Beautiful. Sacred to the people. For many, untouchable. They
believed that as long as that building stood, nothing bad could happen to them.
"Lies," Jeremiah whispered.
The fire awoke.
She felt the urgency with terrifying clarity. It wasn't an emotional impulse. It was a
Order. A cargo that had to be delivered there… and now.
He climbed a few steps and stood in a visible spot. He took a deep breath.
"Listen to the word of the Lord!" he shouted.
Some stopped. Others kept walking.
—All who enter through these gates to worship!
The voice was firm. Authoritative. Not that of a fearful boy, but that of someone
whoHe spoke with a conviction impossible to fake.
People began to gather.
—Thus says the Lord of hosts— he continued—: "Correct your ways and your
actions, and I will let you dwell in this place."
There were murmurs.
Jeremiah took a step
forward.
—Do not trust deceptive words that say:
"Temple of the Lord! Temple of the Lord! Temple of the Lord!"
The impact was immediate.
Some were outraged. Others looked at each other uncomfortably.
"What did you say?" they murmured. "Does she dare speak like that here?"Jeremiah did not stop.
—If they truly practice justice,
if they do not oppress the foreigner, the orphan, or
the widow,if they do not shed innocent blood
nor do they follow other gods to their own harm…
The silence grew.
—Then —he said— God will let them live on this
earth.A woman shook her head.
—But you— Jeremiah continued— steal, kill, commit adultery, swear falsely… and
thenThey come to this temple and say, "We are safe."
Outrage erupted.
"Shut up!" shouted a man. "This is
blasphemy!"Jeremiah raised his voice even more.
"Do you think this temple is a den of thieves?" The
words fell like fire.
Some priests began to move among the people. Their faces were tense.They knew
that this could not be allowed.
"I have seen it," Jeremiah continued. "Says the Lord."
For a moment, no one spoke. The impact was too great.Then came
the screams.
—Get him out of here!
—He's cursing the temple!
—He wants to cause panic!
A priest advanced furiously.
"Do you realize where you are?" he shouted. "This is the holy place!"
Jeremiah stared at him.
"A holy place is not where there are stones," he replied, "but where there is
obedience."That sealed his fate.
The priests rushed at him. Some men from the town joined in. Jeremiah was
pushed, held down, and beaten. The noise of the worship mingled with shouts of
fury.
—Kill him!
—He has prophesied against this city!
They dragged him out of the sacred precinct, into the outer courtyard. Jeremiah
could barely...She stood her ground, but she didn't defend herself. She didn't
scream.
I knew that moment would come.
"This man deserves to die," said one of the priests. "He has spoken against this
holy place and against the law."
Jeremiah raised his head. There was blood on his lip. But his eyes were clear.
"The Lord sent me," he said in a firm voice, "to tell you everything you
have heard."The crowd fell silent.
—Correct your ways —he continued—, and the Lord will relent from the evil he has
announced.
A murmur ran through the crowd.
"As for me," he added, "here I am. Do
with me what you will."
He took a deep breath.
—But know this:
If they kill me, they will bring innocent blood upon themselves and upon
this city.The words hung suspended in the air.
For the first time, some doubted.
"What if he's telling the truth?"
someone whispered. The priests glared
at each other angrily.
"This man is dangerous!" one of them shouted. "He's dividing
the people!"Jeremiah closed his eyes for a moment.I felt no fear.I
felt sadness.
"The temple is full," he thought, "but the hearts are empty."
As he was being taken before the authorities, he knew he had crossed a
line.irreversible. He was no longer just an inconvenient prophet.
He was a man who had touched the nation's greatest idol.And
Jerusalem would not forgive him easily.