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The Church Victorious in heaven is utterly spotless, because in heaven we are purified and past any possibility of change. However, the Church Militant on earth is in the realm of time and change: some advancing and some lagging, some gaining victories over sin as they go forward in Christ, and some lapsing back into sin as they neglect the command to persevere.

As a visible, God-ordained body, a parish or congregation or other "institutional" ekklesia will be very much this sort of mixture. This should sadden us all but should surprise nobody.

As for St. John, we don't actually know if he panicked and dashed off with the others or not--- possibly he just went to get Jesus' mother --- but either way, he must have returned promptly, because we know he was there with Mary, at the Lord's crucifixion to the end. At that point, the Church Loyal was indeed very small at the foot of the Cross: very small.

As for St. John, we don't actually know if he panicked and dashed off with the others or not..

Well, yes we do know based on Scripture....ALL the disciples fled Him.

Mark records this as does John.

And they all forsook him, and fled… Mark 14:50-52

Behold, 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

--- possibly he just went to get Jesus' mother

possible but doubtful considering the hour.

--- but either way, he must have returned promptly, because we know he was there with Mary, at the Lord's crucifixion to the end. At that point, the Church Loyal was indeed very small at the foot of the Cross: very small.

This is correct. John was at the Cross.

As I said....some were corrections and some were clarifications.