AND THEY ABANDONED HIM

Mark 14:50-52 KJ2000
And they all forsook him, and fled. And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

Dear Believer,

When you received Jesus, did you count the cost?

Many did not. They followed some fancy evangelist or pastor and were told that once they became a Believer, they’d never have any challenges, ever.

When persecutions and pressures came their way, they didn’t know what to do at all. They were never prepared.

Then there are those who were told that there would be challenges, but never took the warning seriously. Jesus told His disciples that He was going to be arrested and killed. Peter resisted Him and said God forbid. He just couldn’t imagine Jesus being humiliated by the ungodly people. (Matthew 16:21-22). Whatever Jesus said about His coming trials didn’t sink into him and other disciples. They didn’t want to process the information, so they avoided it.

When Jesus went about healing the sick, feeding people, raising the dead, there were people who came and requested to follow Him. They wanted to go everywhere with Him. These seemingly zealous people usually reversed their decision when they learnt that there could be difficulty and deprivations on the way. (Luke 9:57-58).

“And they all forsook Him and fled!”

Those who forsook Him here were the disciples that had followed Him for three and a half years, saw the miracles He did and heard His word. These included those who were on the mountain with Him when He was transfigured and who saw the glory envelope Him.

They all fled. They all abandon Him.

In our focus scripture today, we see one of those who followed Jesus had the blanket he wrapped around him held by one of the law officers. Rather than wait to offer support for Jesus, the guy let go of his own blanket and ran away. He was stark naked, having nothing under his blanket. That was how desperate his disciples were to abandon Him at this time.

To me, the young man who fled naked is a metaphor for those who abandon Jesus. they lose their covering.

The easiest thing is to blame those guys. The question is, are we ready to go with Jesus all the way?

Every Believer must get it into their spirit that the journey of faith is for life. It is a total package containing persecution. We tend to see only the blessings and the promises. We need to realize that we may be called upon at certain times to suffer for Jesus.

Philippians 1:29 KJ2000
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

May you be found to stand strong in the face of the devil’s intimidation at all times in the name of Jesus.

Have a beautiful day.

Your friend,
Deon.

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