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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
it was the report of the expression, "Blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" (John, XII. 13), used by some of his overzealous followers, at the time of his last entry into Jerusalem, which disinclined the Roman soldiery to show any regard for his person, when once it was decided to yield to the demand of the Jews. Thus, so long as no one knew his object, there was hardly any chance of error, or room for mishap, left anywhere in his scheme; and, even if the worst came to the worst, it was always within his power to 'hide himself and pass through their midst,' as he had done before. The irresistible power, acquired by the development of the subjective forces within him, could always be relied upon to enable him to effect his escape at the last moment, if he found that events were not shaping themselves to suit his plan.
That he knew his power well is put beyond the possibility of dispute by his own declaration, which, in the words of the author of the gospel of St. John, reads:--
"No man taketh it (life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
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By this time, no doubt, Jesus had been fully convinced of his intended laying down of life and its taking up again in the interest of the sheep as a divine commandment, so that there should be only 6 one fold and one Shepherd.' If any authority were needed to prove this, we have it in the following from the third gospel :
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And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined."--Luke, XXII. 22).
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