Bold Statements from a Lack of Perspective: Mark 14:26-31
God makes a habit of talking boldly, then demonstrates His power by following through in unfathomable ways. He does the unexpected, and He does it spectacularly. That’s why He’s God. That’s why He deserves our worship.
After singing a hymn, Jesus takes His disciples away from the upper room to the Mount of Olives. Judas is already gone – Mark doesn’t tell us how Jesus dismissed him, but John tells us in his Gospel. Once they arrive on the mount, Jesus tells His disciples they will all fall away.
This is an interesting thing for Jesus to say. Sure, He knows it will happen. The disciple’s fear will be what saves their lives and prevents them from joining Jesus in His fate. Still, was it necessary for Jesus to tell the disciples about their impending inability to remain beside Jesus?
Jesus may be making the disciples aware of their future struggle as a moment of grace. Most of us, when faced with a life-or-death decision, will choose to preserve our life. Even more importantly, Jesus needs His disciples to survive the coming hours so they will be present for the resurrection, then Pentecost, and their ministry to follow. Someone needs to be there to help shape the fledgling fellowship of Christ’s followers.
As Jesus indicates, the disciples are going to fall away and feel an incredible amount of guilt when they do. Jesus shows them while He knows of their future choices, He still desires to be with them. Their abandonment of Jesus is easily forgivable. Even though they will abandon Him, Jesus will not abandon them. The disciples need to understand the guilt stemming from their upcoming choices does not preclude them from continuing to follow God.
This is one of the main reasons to see the crucifixion as God’s plan. We’ve already seen how God can use Judas when he follows his own agenda. In the same way, when the disciples flee from Jesus to save their own skin, God uses their actions to fulfill scripture. Yes, the disciples will be guilty of abandoning Jesus. Yet, that moment of humanity will be used by God to make sure the next generation of followers of God have what they need to grow.
In a great display of humanity and lack of understanding, Jesus’ disciples rise to the challenge and rebuke Jesus. The disciples don’t know God’s plan. They can’t see with God’s vision. They muster their bravado and boldly proclaim they would never leave Jesus’ side. Peter’s assertion of loyalty is so firm that Jesus tells him specifically he will deny knowing Jesus three times in the coming hours.
Each of these events serve to put God’s ways in juxtaposition to our ways. We make a habit of talking boldly but not always following through. God makes a habit of talking boldly and then demonstrating His power by following through in unfathomable ways.
