How was Jesus deserted by his disciples?

Answer 1

This was by all the remaining 11 disciples fleeing when Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested in the Garden of Gethseme. He was deserted by His friends in His hour of need.

Mat 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Mat 26:48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

Mat 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Mat 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led himaway to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

Mat 26:58But Peter followed him afar offunto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

However, two disciples did return: Peter went to the High Priest's palace, and John to the crucifixion.

Joh 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wifeof Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

Joh 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Joh 19:27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

There is no record of any of the other 9 disciples returning.

Answer 2

At the first of two of Christ's greatest sufferings (the second on the Cross), He asked them to watch (over Him) as he went several more feet into the garden to pray. Three times, they fell asleep. He needed them at His greatest hour of emotional pain, but they were not there for Him. It is significant because this is one of the few times that Christ's emotional suffering was so great, the he literally "sweat tears of blood."

Then when the crowd of soldiers, priests, Pharisees and towns people came to find Him (from the betrayal of Judas), the Apostles again were silent all except for Peter, who sliced off the ear of one. Christ reprimanded Peter (really though He was asking Peter to repent and be cleansed) for this act saying "Those who live by the sword will die by the sword." The significance of this statement is powerful because it's Christ's message that we are not to solve our problems by the world's standards. And then Christ healed the man, the enemy who was helping Him to His death, also a powerful example of when Christ tells us to love and pray for our enemies.

No matter what emotional pain and fear we are in, it's never as deep as what Christ suffered and so we know that He understands our pain. Those of us who are persecuted must remember that we are not being captured and walked to our death. We are also not likely hated by multitudes though it may feel that way at times. It's interesting to note the ignorance of those people, many of them good people, who jumped on the band wagon...can't you think of a time this has happened to you, that you were misjudged and persecuted by someone when you were innocent? Christ's persecutory sufferings offer us comfort in knowing that we can come to Him with this kind of pain and He certainly understands.

The Apostles were no different then you and I. Yes, they physically knew Christ and heard His gospels directly from Him...but they were no less vulnerable to sin and the weaknesses of man than we are. Christ forgave them for abandoning Him and so we must also forgive those who abandon or persecute us. Difficult to do, but if we are true followers of Christ, necessary.

One more important point: Throughout Christ's trials, notice that He does not ever attempt to reason with people in hopes they will like Him, love Him or stop persecuting Him. All of His words and teachings have to do with "our" salvation! I think this is poignant because when we feel persecuted, what is the first thing we want to do? Defend and explain ourselves to stop the persecution because it's so painful. Yet, Christ did not do this. What an example of His love for us..He was selfless and in our narcissistic society, we are taught to be selfish, a huge barrier to becoming interdependent with Christ. We are not called to be codependent or independent (as the world tells us), but interdependent...with Him who loves us.

Answer 3

They left him