Withdrawal to the Mount of Olives

102. Withdrawal to the Mount of Olives

Remember that right up until the end, the disciples believed Jesus to be the messiah. It was an expectation that Jesus was never able to dispel. So when Jesus says that the disciples will all be offended, what he means is that they will all feel betrayed, because once he is taken and killed, they will finally see that he is not going to fulfill their messianic expectations. In their disillusionment and fear, they will flee and deny any relationship with Jesus.

Jesus is a pretty astute student of human nature. He knows how such things work.