Moment of Meditation: Everyone Fled (Matthew 26:56)

''Then all the disciples left him and fled (Matthew 26:56).''

After all the brave boasting and posturing among the disciples, everyone ran for the hills when the soldiers arrested Jesus. The soldiers didn't care about the disciples. They were after Jesus. No one else mattered. '''HE''' was public enemy number one.

Of the twelve disciples in Gethsemane, we see that three went back into Jerusalem. The others might have gone to Bethany. They went wherever they thought they could hide.

The three who stayed somewhat near Jesus were John, Peter and Judas. John's family was well-known and established in Jerusalem. Peter was curious of what would happen. Judas wanted to see the fireworks.

John walks in with the crowd because he knows the high priest. He brings Peter into the courtyard by speaking to the doorman. Peter denies knowing Jesus. Judas hangs himself because the fireworks never happened. Jesus was going to be condemned to death. And it was all Judas' fault. So Judas flees to the one place he deems worthy of himself. The grave.

Judas is the only one who fled who was not forgiven. He wouldn't stick around to receive forgiveness. He thought he had no other choice. But the other eleven were forgiven on Easter evening. Forgiven by the resurrected Jesus. Just like you. Amen.