3. Here we see that John had returned to the Saviour’s side.
Excepting, of course, the suffering of Christ at the hand of God, perhaps the bitterest dreg of all in the cup which he drank was the forsaking of him by the apostles. It was bad enough and sad enough that his own people, the Jews, should despise and reject him; but it was far worse that the Eleven, who had accompanied so long with him, should desert their Lord in the hour of crisis. One would have thought that their faith and their love was equal to any shock. But it was not. "They all forsook him, and fled" (Matthew 26:56) reads the sacred narrative. Unspeakably tragic was this. Their failure to "watch" with him for one hour in the Garden well nigh paralyses our minds, but their turning away from him at the time of his arrest almost baffles comprehension. Almost, we say, for have we not learned from bitter experience the deceitfulness of our hearts, how feeble our faith is, how lamentably weak we are in the hour of trial and testing! But for the grace of God the veriest trifle is sufficient to overturn us. Let the restraining and upholding power of God be withdrawn from us, and how long would we stand?
The Lord Jesus had solemnly warned these disciples of their approaching cowardice: "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad" (Matthew 26:31). And not Peter only but all of the apostles affirmed their determination to stand by him:
"Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples" (Matthew 26:35). Nevertheless, his word proved true, and they all basely deserted him. And how this reflected upon his glory! By their sinful flight they exposed the Lord Jesus to the contempt and scoffs of his enemies. It was because of this we read, "The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples" (John 18:19). It is not difficult to fill in the blanks. Doubtless Caiaphas inquired how many disciples he had, and what was become of them now? And what was the reason they had forsaken their Master, and left him to shift for himself when danger appeared? But observe that to this question, the Saviour made no reply. He would not accuse them to the common enemy though they had deserted him!
They forsook him because they were "offended" at him: "All ye shall be offended because of me this night" (Matthew 26:31): the Greek word here translated "offended" might well be rendered "scandalized". They were ashamed to be found in his company. They deemed it no longer safe to remain with him. As he gave himself up, they considered it advisable to provide as well as they might for themselves, and somewhere or other take refuge from the present storm which had overtaken him. This from the human side.
From the divine side their forsaking of Christ was due to the suspension of God’s preserving and upholding grace. They were not accustomed to forsake him. They never did so afterwards. They would not have done so now had there been influences of power, zeal and love from heaven upon them. But then how could Christ have borne the burden and heat of the day? How should he have trod the winepress alone? How should his sorrows have been unmitigated if they had adhered faithfully to him? No, no, it must not be. Christ must not have the least relief or comfort from any creature, and therefore that he might be left alone to grapple with the wrath of God and man, the Lord for a time withholds his strengthening influences from them; and then like Samson, when he was shorn of his locks, they were as weak as other men. "Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" says the apostle - if that be withheld our purposes and resolutions melt away before temptation like snow before the sun.
Yet mark that the cowardice and infidelity of the apostles was only temporary. Later, they sought him at the appointed place in Galilee (Matthew 28:16). But is it not cheering to know that one of the eleven did seek him out before he rose in triumph from the tomb? Yea, sought him while he yet hung on the cross of shame! And who might it be supposed this one was? Which of the little band of apostles shall demonstrate the superiority of his love? Even if the sacred narrative had concealed his identity, it would not have been a difficult task to supply his name. The fact that the scripture we are now considering shows us John at the foot of the cross is one of the silent yet sufficient witnesses to the divine inspiration of the Bible. It is one of those undesigned harmonies of the word which attests the super-human origin of the scriptures. There is no hint that any other of the eleven were around the cross, but the thoughtful reader would expect to find there "the disciple whom Jesus loved". And there he was. John had returned to the Saviour’s side, and there receives from him a blessed commission. How artless and how perfect are the silent harmonies of scripture!
And now, once more, a brief word of exhortation. Is there one who reads these lines that has wandered away from the side of the Saviour, who is no longer enjoying sweet communion with him; who is, in a word, a backslide,"? Perhaps in the hour of trial you denied him. Perhaps in the time of testing you failed. You have given more thought to your own interests than his. The honour of his name which you bear has been lost sight of. 0 may the arrow of conviction now enter your conscience. May divine grace melt your heart. May the power of God draw you back to Christ, where alone your soul can find satisfaction and peace. Here is encouragement for you. Christ did not rebuke John on returning; instead, his wondrous grace bestowed on him an unspeakable privilege. Cease then your wanderings and return at once to Christ, and he will greet you with a word of welcome and cheer; and who knows but what he has some honorous commission awaiting you!
