“But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled.” (Matthew 26:56)
Yes, Jesus pleaded for His disciples, that they be let go. “Jesus answered, I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way:” (John 18:8) Yes, the work of redemption was His alone. But Matthew records that the disciples forsook Him and fled. Matthew didn’t mince words. He didn’t say the disciples left or were let go. They forsook Him, abandoned and turned their backs on Him. Their fear was so great, they didn’t want to be associated with Him. And Peter who followed the mob to see what would happen to Jesus, when he was identified as having been with Jesus, He denied Jesus, three times.
So great was their fear, they didn’t even go for Jesus’ body after His death, as a close friend or brother would do. Instead, they returned to what they knew, fishing. “There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.” (John 21:2-4)
There are two things to consider here, the unbelief of the disciples and betrayal of Jesus. The disciples had been with Jesus three years. For three years they’d followed Him, lived with Him, been witness of His mighty works, had been taught of Him and had even preached in His Name. Now in their minds, it was all for nought. One cannot even describe what they were thinking and feeling at that time. Their unbelief was so great, Thomas when he was told that they had seen Jesus, still didn’t believe. “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)
We have to consider that although they’d been with Jesus, they didn’t have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Up to the resurrection, they were not saved. They had believed while Jesus was with them, while the Spirit of God moved among them as Jesus spoke, worked and taught them. But redemption had not been accomplished. After the resurrection, they were saved and forgiven, but they still didn’t have the Holy Spirit indwelling, His assurance of salvation and His supernatural power working in them. But they were obedient and waited in the upper room for the promised Counselor, the promised “parakletos” (Greek), the advocate and helper, after the ascension of Jesus to heaven.
Jesus, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, God incarnate, all God and all man, all knowing, all merciful and all love, knew of the betrayals, their fears and doubts, but also knew that the power of the Holy Spirit would change His brethren with faith, boldness and courage to preach the Gospel, to change the world and even die for Him. He knew of the victory that was coming. He knew of the glory that was coming. So He endured to death the betrayal, the shame, the separation from the Father, the pain and death of the cross for the world, for our freedom from the bondage of sin, for our victory and for our glory, our redemption.
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