“Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me . . .’ Peter replied, ‘Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will . . . Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.’ And all the other disciples said the same.” (Matt 26:31-35)
The story goes on, and we are later told that the disciples did indeed desert Jesus (Matt. 26:56). I don’t know about you, but I find this story just a little bit discouraging. Peter and the other disciples had literally been walking with Jesus for more than 3 years. They had the privilege of speaking to Him face to face. Yet, of them, Jesus could still say: “This very night you will all fall away on account of me.”
The response of Jesus’ disciples is very interesting. Quick to speak Peter said: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matt. 26:33, 35); and the rest of the disciples “said the same.” (Matt. 26:35) – Such a human response! “Of course I won’t ever forsake you, Lord! My foundation is too solid! Nothing can make me deny or forsake you!” Yet if Jesus’ own disciples forsook Him, how much easier would it be for us, who never had the privilege of walking and talking with Him face to face? Think about it! It’s a sobering thought!
Peter tells us: “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8-9), and the apostle Paul used a different, but equally depressing imagery in describing the foe: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:11). With such an adversary as this, is it any wonder that when the moment the going got rough, each of Jesus’ disciples deserted Him?
Yet I don’t wish to leave you on such a discouraging note, for the good news is, there is a SOLUTION! 1 Peter 5:8 admonishes us to: “Be self-controlled and alert . . .”; and Paul warns us to: “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. . . . so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Eph 6:11-18)
Sounds like a pretty big responsibility, doesn’t it? Perhaps more of a time commitment than most of us are willing to make? But think of the alternative: “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled . . .” (Matt 26:56)
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org