Over Optimistic Loyalty & Foolish Bravery

"Their great words of loyalty were soon shown to be hollow as the disciples quickly fled the scene"

In the UK football managers come under immense pressure due to poor results. The club directors then get hassled by the media to make changes. In these pressure situations the directors can find themselves making massively over optimistic statements of loyalty to the manager, that in reality they can’t deliver. Very quickly their words come back to haunt them as they then go on to sack the manager. It’s interesting how times of uncertainty can cause us to make over strong, definitive statements.

This happened to the leaders that Jesus was training. As Jesus described a difficult future, explaining to them that when under pressure they would fall away. Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not”. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same (Mk 14: 29 & 31). As we go on in the narrative one of the leaders has a moment of foolish bravery. Just as they were arresting Jesus he drew a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Having rebuked the leader who used the sword, Jesus went on to heal the servant.

Their great words of loyalty were soon shown to be hollow as the disciples quickly fled the scene. Mark explains that “everyone deserted him and fled. He then went on to describe how “a young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. (Mk 14: 50-51). This was a humiliating end to a terrible day. Would there be any way back for these leaders as they let Jesus down so badly?

Over Optimistic Loyalty & Foolish Bravery

In the UK football managers come under immense pressure due to poor results. The club directors then get hassled by the media to make changes. In these pressure situations the directors can find themselves making massively over optimistic statements of loyalty to the manager, that in reality they can’t deliver. Very quickly their words come back to haunt them as they then go on to sack the manager. It’s interesting how times of uncertainty can cause us to make over strong, definitive statements.