43 And immediately, while he yet of the High Priest, and cut off his spake, cometh Judas, one of the ear.
twelve, and with him a great multi- 48 And Jesus answered and said tude with swords and staves, from the unto them, Are ye come out, as against Chief Priests and the Scribes and the a thief, with swords and with staves elders. ' to take me ?
44 And he that betrayed him had ! 49 I was daily with you in the given them a token, saying, Whom- temple teaching, and ye took me not : soever I shall kiss, that same is he ; but the Scriptures must be fulfilled, take him, and lead 7dm away safely. 50 And they all forsook him, and
45 And as soon as he was come, he fled.
£oeth straightway to him, and saith, 51 And there followed him a cer- Master, master ; and kissed him. ; tain young man, having a linen cloth
46 And they laid their hands on cast about Ms naked body ; and the him, and took him. young men laid hold on him :
47 And one of them that stood by 52 And he left the linen cloth, and drew a sword, and smote a servant fled from them naked.
Let us notice in these verses, how little our Lord's enemies understood the nature of His kingdom. We read that Judas came to take Him " with a great multitude, with swords and staves." It was evidently expected that our Lord would be vigorously defended by His disciples, and that He would not be taken prisoner without fighting. The chief priests and scribes clung obstinately to the idea, that our Lord's kingdom was a worldly kingdom, and therefore supposed that it would be upheld by worldly means. They had yet to learn the solemn lesson contained in our Lord's words to Pilate, " My kingdom is not of this world : — now is my kingdom not from hence." (John xviii. 36.)