13 Apr Scattered

It had to be a deflating if not devastating moment for Jesus’ twelve Apostles. Jesus had just explained to them how soon they wouldn’t see Him, but in a little while they would:

29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” 31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:29-33 (NIV)

I cannot even imagine the indignation the dozen followers felt to hear they would scatter, leaving Jesus alone. There is little doubt that they all, even Judas, believed He was wrong. How could they abandon Him? They followed Him for three years. They gave up everything to follow him. They believed (most likely even Judas at one point) that He was the Messiah. How could they possibly abandon Him? Of course, when Jesus is arrested, they do scatter from Him. What about you? When was the last time you scattered from Jesus? Never, you say? Are you sure?

We pray to Jesus and tell Him we love Him and trust Him, and we tell others to do the same. Do our actions match our words? We can be quick to abandon Jesus, especially when we feel as though He has abandoned us. Has there been a dark valley you’ve gone through where you distanced from Jesus instead of drawing closer to Him?  Oswald Chambers covered this in one of His devotions in “My Utmost for His Highest:”

Have we left Jesus alone because our circumstances are dark? God is never in a hurry. Darkness comes through his sovereign will. If we wait, we’ll see what he’s trying to show us: that we haven’t been interested in him, only in his blessings.

Chambers makes a point I never considered. Everything about Jesus’ last day was done by God with great intentionality: Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ treatment at the hands of His captors, and, yes, his followers fleeing. Their scattering served God’s greater purpose. But Chambers says that in allowing us to doubt and return, God fortifies our “spiritual grit.” I agree.

I have pulled away from God many times, only to experience my own personal “Resurrection Sunday.” What about you? Are you in a moment as dark as the skies turned on the first Good Friday? Have you scattered from God? Let me encourage you: God will see you through the darkness and will welcome you back from your “scattering” just as He did with the surviving eleven apostles. On this Palm Sunday, the launch of Holy week, let our hearts be focused on the Grace of God that made it all possible and welcomes us back when we scatter.

Pastor Jerry Bader