He never deserted them, but they in cowardly fear of their lives, fled from Him in the very beginning of His sufferings. It is one thing to promise, and quite another to perform. They fled from their true safety. O God, let me not play the fool also.
Divine grace can make the coward brave.
The smoking flax can flame forth like fire on the altar when the Lord wills it. These very apostles who were timid as hares, grew to be bold as lions after the Spirit had descended upon them, and even so the Holy Spirit can make my recreant spirit brave to confess my Lord and witness for His truth. If I forsake my Lord, I shall crucify Him afresh, and put Him to an open shame. Keep me, O blessed Spirit, from an end so shameful.