This week we are looking at Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The last couple of days we've looked at his great sorrow and his submission to the will of the Father. Today we will look at his abandonment by his disciples.
Matthew 26:30–46
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Interestingly, on the way out to the Mount of Olives after the Passover meal, Jesus foretells his disciple's abandonment. In verse 31 he tells them that they will all fall away on his account. Of course this comes to pass just as Jesus says it would. As if it isn't bad enough that one of his own disciples betrays him for 30 pieces of silver, the rest abandon him in his darkest hour. The end of Matthew 26:56 sums it up well: "Then all the disciples left him and fled." This happened mere hours after their bold declaration in verse 35 that they would die before disowning him.
Peter, ever the outspoken one, outright rejects this assertion. He confesses that even if everyone else leaves, he never will. We all know how Peter's overconfidence plays out. Despite Jesus' warning, Peter ends up denying him three times after Jesus is arrested. If we continue reading in the story, while Jesus stands trial before the Sanhedrin Peter, follows him in the courtyard. Three times he is recognized as someone being with Jesus and three times he denies it and denies even knowing him. Then the rooster crows, and Luke documents that Jesus looked at Peter. Peter is then reminded of Jesus' words, here. As a result Peter went out and wept bitterly.
This serves to demonstrate just how utterly alone Jesus was in this moment. He is completely abandoned by all of his disciples when the guards come to arrest him. He is denied by his closest disciple, Peter. Tomorrow and Friday we will see how he is even abandoned in prayer by his three closest followers and even the Father himself.
Additional Content
Reflection
Today, reflect on what it must have been like for Jesus. We've all been let down in some ways by those we expected to be there for us. Think of a time this happened to you. How did you feel in that moment? How did you respond to those who abandoned you? Again, Jesus knows how this feels, so when we pray we pray to God who knows.