On Thursday of Holy Week, we observe Jesus and the disciples sharing the last supper, Jesus humbling Himself by washing the disciples’ feet and showing them and all of the posterity that no one is too great to serve, and we see Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before being turned over to the authorities to be tried and crucified.
Each of these is worth extensive study and teaching and is incredibly beneficial to every believer. However, as encouraging as the words of Jesus’ High Priestly prayer are, the words He speaks just before those are some of the most encouraging words in all of Scripture. These words are found in John 16:30-33.
John 16:30–33 ESV
30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The disciples thought that they fully understood and believed what Jesus was saying. And yet, Jesus reveals something that is shocking to them. According to Jesus, the disciples would soon scatter and abandon Jesus. They would leave Him alone. The historic teaching of the texts is that the disciples did just that.
In fact, The Gospel of Mark tells us that they all fled.
Mark 14:50–52 ESV
50 And they all left him and fled. 51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.
Most people understand verses 51 and 52, to be referring to Mark himself, who was an eyewitness, but not a disciple. Jesus had truly been deserted by those who claimed to follow Him. However, in preparing the disciples for this moment in the John text, He tells them that even though He would be abandoned, He was not truly alone. Jesus’ comfort was found in the Father and trusting in His plan for Jesus and all of humanity. We too must realize that our encouragement should be similar. Even when all our friends or family abandon us, we are not truly alone. Jesus promised us that He is with us always, even unto the end of the age. So even if we are alone in standing for the truth of God’s Word in this world, we are not truly alone.
Jesus told the disciples these things that they would have peace amidst tribulation by trusting in Him. For He has truly overcome the world. When Jesus was on the cross, He would state that the Father had forsaken Him. This was part of the Father pouring out His wrath on Christ as Jesus took the punishment that we deserved for our sins. Jesus became truly alone and died so that we would never be alone and eternally live with Him.
When Jesus rose from the grave, He showed that He had truly overcome the world, death, and the grave. So, for us, especially in this season, we are to take heart in the accomplished and finished work of Christ and walk confidently in His will for us each day.
Colt Hudson 