Jesus will never abandon you.
A reflection on Matt 26
All of us are keenly aware that life is difficult. In fact, there are many moments where life becomes so difficult that we often believe the lie that Jesus is either far from us or has abandoned us altogether.
The constant difficulties we face in life often lead us to think that Jesus is absent from our lives at many points.
We know this isn’t the character of Jesus, but the moments when we face insurmountable challenges lead us back down the path of doubt. We’re aware that Jesus, by nature, is always present and that he desires to be close to his people, as a shepherd is to his sheep. May this reflection on the story from Matthew’s Gospel encourage you that Jesus will never abandon you.
36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
47 While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Matthew 26:36–56 (ESV)
When I was in seminary, I found that many things in the Bible didn’t make sense unless you looked at them through the cultural lens of the world in which they were written. One of those things was highlighted in this story where Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
As shown on the map above, the Garden of Gethsemane lies across the Kidron Valley and directly east of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. As Jesus and the disciples would have been praying, they would have been in clear view of the path descending from the temple into the garden.
Jesus goes to the valley to pray because he knows the trials he is about to face. He goes seeking refuge and peace from God, knowing that he’s about to suffer and die for the sins of the world.
As Jesus pleads earnestly with the Father and submits to his will, Jesus is presented with an opportunity to abandon the plan of God to sustain his own life and protection.
Jesus, knowing the future, knowing that Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, is on his way to come and turn him over to the people, in the midst of that knowledge, in the midst of having the ability to run, stands steadfast, committed firmly to the will of the Father, to the redemption of all people.
Jesus and his divine wisdom knew that the disciples would not have the strength to stay up and pray with them. He also knew that momentarily they would abandon Him, fleeing into the mountains after his arrest. Yet in the face of that knowledge, he remained committed to staying firm with His beloved.
Theologian Craig Keener notes that Judas the Betrayer brings a large band of people to turn Jesus over. This band of people most likely included temple guards coming from the Temple Mount directly above the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is praying, as seen in the picture above. The valley is filled with olive trees, yet this foliage would have hardly blocked the view of the praying Jesus. He would have clearly seen the band of people, traveling either with torches or weapons, marching towards the garden.
Jesus, knowing both supernaturally and visually that the betrayer was coming, chose to stay in the garden, praying, prepared to do the will of the Lord.
Jesus was adequately equipped to escape through the valley and back into the wilderness past Bethany, chose to stay. Fleeing through this valley is not unfamiliar to the Israelites. King David decided to escape along a similar path in the valley after his son Absalom overthrew his rule in 2 Samuel.
Jesus, more than certainly, could have escaped in this moment, yet He chooses not to. The nature of Jesus is to stay with God’s people in the midst of adversity, regardless of the pain and suffering that lies ahead. Jesus, our true example of a good shepherd staying with his sheep, knows the power of intimacy and presence.
Without knowing the geographical ramifications of Jesus’ prayer in the valley below the temple, we often miss the power of his decision to stay.
Jesus will choose to stay with his people, even if they abandon him, even if he sees the danger ahead, and even if it will cost him everything.
I do not know what you are facing today, but I do know this… Jesus will not abandon you.