I don't know how Jesus "felt" about the statement He had to make in John 16:32:  ³²But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone.  As the Son of God, He knew what was in the heart of people.  We're told that earlier in John's gospel.  Yet as a human being, He must have found it hard to be totally abandoned in His time of greatest trial.  When we look at John 16:31-33 as a whole, we find Jesus affirming the disciples as finally believing in Him, then telling them they would abandon Him, and finally assuring them that He had overcome the world!  That's a big shift of the pendulum.

In my own relationship with Jesus, I've had times when I KNEW He was with me.  I've also had times when I wondered if He was.  As I mentioned in worship yesterday morning, we all scatter at times.  Peter denied ever knowing Jesus just a few hours after Jesus made His comments in John 16:31-33.  When the disciples scattered and went their own way, they lost the power that comes from unity in the Spirit.  Isolation often leads us to doubt.  It can also lead us to despair.  Yesterday, as we gathered together in worship, I drew strength just from having so many other brothers and sisters with me.  As I shared the message, the nods of affirmation, the looks of encouragement, and the sense I had of folks "tracking" with what I was saying, you helped give me strength to continue.  I already had inner strength from the Holy Spirit, and the assurance that I was speaking from God's word, but I experienced the truth of Jesus' words that whenever two or more are gathered together in His name, He is there with us. I experienced His presence through you all! 

Right now, as you reflect on your life, do you have a sense of being part of God's family, of the body of Jesus, or do you feel isolated?  I'm not talking about whether you're ever by yourself.  All of us are alone sometimes, and solitude is a good thing when we use it to spend time with the Lord, and reflect on His plan for our lives.  I'm talking about when we have either purposefully, or because we've been abandoned, become isolated from others.  That's a dangerous place to be, because it gives the devil opportunity to lie to us, without having others around to encourage or challenge us to live in God's truth.  Make a commitment today to avoid isolation, and even if you're discouraged that others have let you down, invest some time with others.  Most important of all--invest some time with Jesus.  Give Him thanks.  Ask Him for strength.  Let Him fill You with the Holy Spirit, and live the full and abundant life He offers.

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your faithfulness in our lives.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may know that reality of Your presence, and bring us into fellowship with other believers that we may strengthen one another to love and serve You.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.