NOTES for Mat 26:30-56

Loneliness—for many, this is the most frightening word in the world. Jesus too passes through loneliness, and at the most terrible and tragic moment of His life. The Evangelist describes a succession of betrayals: the disillusioned Judas proves capable of selling the Teacher for money; Peter and the other disciples make empty promises to remain with Him to the end; then they are unable to support Him in Gethsemane; then Peter again shows his complete failure to understand what is happening when he tries to defend Jesus with a sword; then comes the disciples’ flight, then the betrayal by former listeners to Jesus’ preaching, and then His rejection by the leaders of His people. In this sequence, everyone who had any connection with Jesus turns away from Him. He is left alone, without friends, without followers, without legions of angels, without the Father’s radiant glory. He travels the human path.