Jesus had 12 disciples, but at the hour of His greatest need for their support, nine deserted Him, one betrayed Him, and the other denied knowing Him. Only one stayed with Him through the hour of persecution, trial, and being condemned to death.
Peter, James, and John were the inner circle of Jesus, always in the forefront. Who would have thought that Peter, the one who boasted of his loyalty, would deny Jesus? And John, the one who leaned on Jesus and was thought to be the first to go if trouble arose, didn’t just walk away—or denied Jesus. David in the Psalms spoke of that day, saying, ‘My own familiar friends who ate at the table with me denied me, turned away from me, turned against me.’
Now, you and I must always remember that Jesus chose those twelve men who walked and talked with Him shoulder to shoulder, day after day. They ate and drank with Him for years, laughed and prayed together, yet they walked away in the hour of His greatest need for their support and desire for their presence to bring some form of comfort. If this happened to Jesus, don’t be surprised if it happens to you. You and I are not greater or better than Jesus, not in any way, not even by the longest stretch of the imagination.
This is today’s crosspoint. Have a blessed week.
Accompanying Bible verses:
1. **Matthew 26:56 (NIV):** “But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
2. **Psalm 41:9 (NIV):** “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.”
3. **Matthew 26:75 (NIV):** “Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
