30 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. 

31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,

‘God will strike[ e ] the Shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” 33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Matthew 26:30-35 (NLT)中文

Headed to Mount of Olives

Jesus has instituted the Lord’s Supper as a new Passover of sorts – with the sacrifice being Himself rather than the lamb and the exodus rather than being to the promised land is to Heaven. Judas Iscariot has been exposed. They sang a hymn and are now on the road to the Mt. of Olives – where He had paused before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem about a week prior (Matthew 21:1).

Abandonment prophesied

Jesus reveals they will all abandon Him. The disciples couldn’t handle it. Peter speaks, I believe, for the rest of them in this. He claims he would never desert Jesus. The others claim the same severe allegiance. But Jesus quotes from a part of Zechariah 13:7. He reveals that this passage is actually yet another prophecy about Him. It is going to happen. Jesus even goes as far as to predict that, in particular, Peter, the most outspoken in his opposition to the idea, will actually deny Him 3 times!

But yet again, Peter corrects Jesus’ words as he did so boldly earlier in Matthew 16:21-23 when Peter actually rebuked Jesus for predicting that He would suffer and die. Jesus rebuked the thought and Satan – who somehow worked through Peter to oppose God’s plan. But who can oppose God’s plan?

Hope in disappointment

Can you see the tremendous contrast here? Jesus is headed to His death. One of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, has deserted Him to betray Him. Jesus predicts the others all will also desert Him. But then, but then, in the midst of such great disappointment, He gives them hope. He will meet them again in Galilee. 

RЯeflection

• As we proceed through this passion period, consider the sacrifice Jesus made – even leading up to the cross. Today and yesterday we see the abandonment of His closest friends. After the brutal beating and crucifixion, it will culminate in “becoming sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21) and having to be forsaken by the Father (Matthew 27:46).
• Let us also give thanks that we also have hope, an undying hope.