We shall do well to remember this in all our endea- vors to extend the kingdom of true religion. It is not to be propagated by violence, or by an arm of flesh. " The weapons of our warfare are not carnal/' " Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." (2 Cor. x. 4. Zech. iv. 6.) The cause of truth does not need force to maintain it. False religions, like Mohammedanism, have often been spread by the sword. False Christianity, like that of the Roman Church, has often been enforced on men by bloody persecutions. But the real Gospel of Christ requires no such aids as these. It stands by the power of the Holy Ghost. It grows by the hidden influence of the Holy Ghost on men's hearts and consciences. There is no clearer sign of a bad cause in religion than a readiness to appeal to the sword.
Let us notice, secondly, in these verses, how all tilings in our Lord's pass iori happened according to God's word. His own address to those who took Him, exhibits this in a striking manner : " the Scripture must be fulfilled."
There was no accident or chance in any part of the close of our Lord's earthly ministry. The steps in which He walked from Gethsemane to Calvary were all marked out hundreds of years before. The twenty-second Psalm, and the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, were literally fulfilled. The wrath of His enemies — His rejection by His own people — His being dealt with as a malefactor — His being condemned by the assembly of the wicked — all had been foreknown, and all foretold. All that took place was only the working out of God's great design to pro- vide an atonement for a world's sin. The armed men whom Judas brought to lay hands on Jesus, were, like
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Nebuchadnezzar and Sennacherib, unconscious instru- ments in carrying God's purposes into effect.
Let us rest our souls on the thought, that all around us is ordered and overruled by God's almighty wisdom. The course of this world may often be contrary to our wishes. The position of the Church may often be very unlike what we desire. The wickedness of worldly men, and the inconsistencies of believers, may often afflict our souls. But there is a hand above us, moving the vast machine of this universe, and making all things work together for His glory. The Scriptures are being yearly fulfilled. Not one jot or tittle in them shall ever fail to be accomplished. The kings of the earth may take counsel together, and the rulers of the nations may set themselves against Christ (Psal. ii. 2), but the resurrec- tion morning shall prove that, even at the darkest time, all things were being done according to the will of God. Let us notice, lastly, in these verses, how much the faith of true believers may give way. We are told that when Judas and his company laid hands on our Lord, and He quietly submitted to be taken prisoner, the eleven disciples " all forsook Him and fled." Perhaps up to that moment they were buoyed up by the hope that our Lord would work a miracle, and set Himself free. But when they saw no miracle worked, their courage failed them entirely. Their former protestations were all forgotten. Their promises to die with their Master, rather than deny Him, were all cast to the winds. The fear of present danger got the better of faith. The sense of immediate peril drove every other feeling out of their minds. They u all forsook Him and fled."