We live in a world of instant connection. Social allows us to keep in touch with thousands of people. We can call someone halfway across the world at any moment. We can watch the news and know virtually everything happening in our communities. We are so plugged in, we never have to be alone ever again. At least that’s what we’re promised.
But the reality we know often looks different. An epidemic of loneliness is sweeping across the world. We feel more disconnected than we’ve ever felt. Too many of us feel isolated, abandoned, and alone.
We wondered if Jesus had ever experienced such loneliness. As a man who spent three years traveling on foot with 12 of his best friends, you might guess that he wasn’t familiar with the feeling, but listen to this.
Like anyone, Jesus didn’t divide his attention perfectly between everyone around him. That’s just not how human relationships work. Of his 12 disciples, there were three whom he was particularly close with: Peter, James, and John. Of those three, we get a pretty good idea that Peter was Jesus’ closest friend — his ride or die. Quite literally, Peter promised Jesus he would die for him.
Fast forward 24 hours after Peter’s impassioned proclamation, and Jesus was taken prisoner and put on trial — though it was not a particularly fair or legitimate trial. When Jesus was arrested, just about everyone fled. All of his friends who were with him left him on his own — all except for Peter, who followed the mob that took Jesus. Time to put that loyalty to the test.
As the authorities rounded up witnesses to give false testimonies, Peter was keeping himself at a distance. Suddenly, someone recognized him as one of Jesus’ followers. They called him out. He denied being affiliated with Jesus. They called him out again. He denied. They called him out one more time. As Peter watched them mock and beat and get ready to kill Jesus, he swore that he didn’t even know who Jesus was.
In his moment of greatest need, Jesus was abandoned by his best friend and left utterly alone.
Loneliness is all around us. We feel it. We see it in our families, co-workers, and friends. But perhaps we can find comfort in Jesus’ loneliness. It reminds us that even in isolation, we’re not alone.
