The Cross, Part 3: Alone

"Then all the disciples left him and fled" [Matt 26:56]

Even after the abundance of love Christ displayed among his followers, a realization of His unpopularity along with fear for their own safety, causes the disciples to "flee from the Lord." "For it is written, I will strike the Shepard, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."

Among these disciples was Peter himself, who boldly exclaimed, "I will never fall away." Yet, the love of God is fully expressed, for we all(like the disciples) "left him and fled" in our hears with sinful desires and still the Lord was gracious and loving enough to pursue us as we fled. "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;" So there is no use in supposing that there was some sort of innate goodness within the hearts of men that motivated Christ to be dragged away by His betrayers. It was not for any good works that we'd done, but instead because we were incapable of doing anything good at all, that He is willfully led away "like a lamb that is led to the slaughter." And standing all alone without any companion or fellow worker to aid him in this great act of redemption, "his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him."

"Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded." "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." The betrayed is crucified for the betrayer, the one who remained faithful died for we who "left him and fled." How is this not the greatest act of love and the most amazing display of grace?

"For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Soli Deo Gloria!