And they all left him and fled. Mark 14:50
Has a really close friend ever betrayed you? Maybe someone you thought you could trust with your deepest secrets, only to find that they had been duplicitous and deceitful? Is there someone in your life who, when you needed them most, turned away from you and left you alone during a really dark and lonely time?
In those situations, it is extremely difficult to forgive that betrayal and move to a place of forgiveness.
Our Savior is a perfect example, when it comes to being deeply forsaken.
Jesus warned the disciples that they would all fall away. “And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” Mark 14:27. He predicted what they would do, yet, they all denied that they would. “But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.” Mark 14:31.
Finally in Mark 14:50 we see that Jesus’ prophecy comes true “And they all left him and fled.”
What would we do in this situation? What have you done when someone has forsaken you, leaving you to handle a difficult time or situation all alone?
When we follow Christ, we are called to behave as He did. In mimicking Him, we are an example to those who don’t know Him. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21.
So, how we handle situations like this are extremely important because our actions either bring God glory or rob Him of it.
What did Jesus do? He went to the cross… alone. No disciples were with Him. Their Shepherd was taken and they scattered. They forsook Him as He was mocked, beaten, and died.
But, it doesn’t end there. Yes He died, but when He arose, He spent the next 40 days revealing Himself to those who loved Him. He sought out and revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene, two of His followers on the road to Emmaus, and all of the disciples.
The apostle Paul tells us in the book of Acts that during those 40 days, Jesus continued to love, walk with, and instruct His disciples. “The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”
So Jesus, after He was forsaken, sought out, walked with, loved, instructed, forgave, and restored those who forsook Him.
Is that how we behave when forsaken? Do we handle being forsaken in this manner? Is it time to forgive and restore someone who you feel may have forsaken you?
Our Savior suffered the cross alone. He was rejected, forsaken, and denied by the men whom He walked most closely with. And He then forgave and restored those relationships. How much more should we be forgiving and restoring those who have forsaken us?
God asks us to be imitators of Jesus. “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:6.
He also asks that we would love others the way that Jesus loves. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” John 15:12. And, Jesus loved us before we even loved Him. “We love because he first loved us.” John 4:19.
We are called to forgive just as Christ forgave us . “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
Is it not appropriate that we would start by forgiving those that we feel have forsaken us? He did, when He forgave you and I.
Is it not appropriate that we would start by loving those who we feel haven’t shown us love? He did, when He loved you and I.
Is it not appropriate that we would put aside any feelings of bitterness or anger and seek out those who forsook us and restore our relationships with them? He did, when He forgave you and I and allowed us to have a personal relationship with Him.
I pray that today we would hunger to be more like you Lord. And, I pray that we would start by loving the way that you did. I pray that we would also forgive the way that you did, completely and never to be mentioned again. I also pray that we would seek out restoration in those relationships that are damaged Father, heal them with your supernatural love.
Let’s stop talking about walking like Jesus and start to actually do it. It simply requires putting one foot in front of the other, as our Heavenly Father directs our steps. “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;” Psalm 37:23.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and if you have been hurt, forsaken, and unloved, Jesus wants to heal all those old wounds. He can do it with one simple prayer. I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page and pray the prayer (Forgiven-N-Loved.com/Life-Preserver) that is outlined there. Once you have, please reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know. I’d love to be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
