The disciples were terrified as they saw Jesus permit Himself to be taken and bound. They were offended that He should suffer this humiliation to Himself and them. They could not understand His conduct, and they blamed Him for submitting to the mob. In their indignation and fear, Peter proposed that they save themselves. Following this suggestion, "they all forsook Him, and fled." But Christ had foretold this desertion, "Behold," He had said, "the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." John 16:32.

Disciplene blev rædselsslagne, da de så Jesus overgive sig til at blive grebet og bundet. Det krænkede dem, at han skulle lide denne ydmygelse for sig selv og for dem. De kunne ikke forstå hans handlemåde, og de bebrejdede ham, at han havde givet efter for skaren. Midt i deres harme og frygt foreslog Peter, at de skulle redde sig selv. Dette forslag blev fulgt, og "da forlod alle disciplene ham og flygtede". Men Kristus havde forudsagt denne flugt. Han havde sagt: "Se, den time kommer, ja, den er allerede kommet, da I skal spredes hver til sit og lade mig ene tilbage; dog, jeg er ikke ene, thi Faderen er med mig." Joh. 16,32.