³² “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

The hour Jesus spoke of in John 4:23 when “true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” has arrived. Yet, this hour begins with persecution: “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God” (John 16:2). And now, further, we find out in our passage for today that the hour in question will also include the scattering of Jesus’ disciples, abandoning Him in His time of need. And finally, this hour will include the earthly aloneness of the Savior.

Ironically, earlier in the Upper Room Jesus spoke of His leaving the disciples, yet here He speaks of the disciples abandoning Him. Only with the hindsight of their post-Pentecostal spiritual awakening would they fully understand the impact of Jesus’ words. By then, they will have returned to the Savior, but with the indwelling Spirit who began to teach and clarify to them everything Jesus had taught them. Can you hear an echo of the Upper Room in Peter’s encouragement to the persecuted believers scattered around the eastern Mediterranean: “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

One of the significant aspects of Jesus’ suffering was being abandoned by His closest followers. Judas betrayed Him, Peter would soon deny Him, and they would all fall asleep during His greatest temptation. He would go through His penultimate suffering and His ultimate work by Himself. The disciples were not able to provide for Jesus in any way during the final hours of His passion.

Yet, in providing an example for them and all believers afterward, that even in suffering He was not alone, no matter that everyone abandoned Him. He was not alone, because, “the Father is with Me.” Peter got it. And he instructed others just as he had learned for himself: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…” (1 Peter 2:21). As followers of Christ, there will be times when we are alone, with no human companionship to help us through our times of trouble. But, we are not alone, the Father is with us, even in the darkest times. And rather than blame other Christians for letting us down, we are blessed to follow in His footsteps who, “being reviled, He did not revile in return … but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).

Lord, help me to see You in the midst of my trials, for You are always with me.