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Author: Stephen Weller
821 words, 4 minutes read time

The Disciples Will Scatter

Scripture: John 16:29-33

In the previous lesson we had a short glimpse of the activity between the resurrection and the ascension; a time when the disciples would begin to understand many things they don’t now understand. In this lesson we will look at what will happen with the disciples when Jesus is arrested.

^{Jn 16:29} His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! ³⁰ Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”

It is not clear what the disciples meant by “now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!” The last thing Jesus said to them, that is recorded, was “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” It is true that that statement seems clear, but that has been said before and they didn’t understand. Since the meaning of the first part of verse 30 is unclear then the “why” of “why we believe” is unclear. This belief will now be challenged by Jesus.

^{Jn 16:31} Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³² Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. ³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus is not so sure that their belief is real and asks them with a questioning voice, “Do you now believe?” The statement that follows his question suggest that they don’t believe. In fact, an event that will test that belief is very close to happening and when it does, Jesus tells them that they will leave him and be scattered and will return to their own homes. When that happens, Jesus will stand alone before those who have come to arrest him. He may not have any other humans there for support, but he is not alone as his Father is there with him.

The scattering of the disciples may allude to Zechariah 13:7 ESV: “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the Lord of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.” The shepherd (Jesus) will be separated from his sheep (the disciples).

This “peace” Jesus speaks of is not the peace our English word conveys, as it does not merely convey the absence of conflict and turmoil but includes a positive blessing, especially in terms of a right relationship with God. This is suggested in Numbers 6:24 – 26 ESV: ²⁴ “The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶ the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

This peace may be most clearly manifested in the midst of persecution and tribulation from the world. Why does the world hate us and cause us to suffer? ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18 – 19 ESV). Paul tells Timothy that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV).

The world that persecutes those of faith in Jesus Christ is in God’s crosshairs and will one day be overcome. How is the world overcome? ⁴ “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4 – 5 ESV).

Conclusion

Jesus will soon be returning to the Father but when he leaves the Holy Spirit will come to replace him in the lives of believers. When Jesus leaves persecution will shift to his followers as those “of” the world cannot stand those who live by faith. The world’s persecution will cause those of faith to suffer but not remove their peace or their joy. Both peace and joy are determined by outside the body events but by the presence of the Spirit in a believer’s life. His presence brings the presence of agape love and the first two characteristic of that love are “joy” and “peace” (Galatians 5:22).