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Standing for the reading of God’s Word, we also dismiss the children for children’s ministry. This morning, children’s ministry is available, and we thank the teachers and those caring for the little ones today. Let us pray briefly as we prepare to read God’s Word:
Father, grant us Your Holy Spirit to open our ears, eyes, and hearts to receive that which is life and truth, that we may yield to Your Word and rejoice in it. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
I thought I would get to the section of Mark 14 where Jesus is in Gethsemane, but there’s no need to rush. We’re coming to the last few laps here in the Gospel of Mark. Today, we will read Mark 14:26–31, giving careful attention to God’s holy, inspired, and infallible Word:
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even though they all fall away, I will not.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ But he said emphatically, ‘If I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And they all said the same.” (Mark 14:26–31, ESV)
This is the Word of the Lord. You may be seated. Jesus and His disciples, no longer twelve but now eleven, went to the Mount of Olives, crossing the Kidron Valley and entering the Gethsemane grove at the foot of the mountain. It was there that these solemn, stunning words were spoken on the night of Jesus’s betrayal, in the aftermath of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. These words unveil the mystery of His passion, the disciples’ pending failure, and the hope of restoration. This passage is rooted in Old Testament prophecy, revealing the heart of the gospel. Today, we will explore this truth through three key points:
- Jesus is the Messianic Shepherd struck by God’s decree.
- The scattering of the sheep reveals human frailty and God’s purpose.
- The Risen Shepherd gathers His flock for restoration.
1. Jesus is the Messianic Shepherd Struck by God’s Decree
In verse 27, Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away,” in the aftermath of singing a hymn. The literal Greek suggests “as they were hymning,” reminding us that when we gather, we are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, speaking to one another and praising God. They sang a hymn in the aftermath of the Passover celebration, perhaps from Psalm 115 or 118. Yet, after that hymn, Jesus delivers these words: “You will all fall away. You will all become untrue to me.” He uses the familiar metaphor of a shepherd and sheep, predicting that they will run away from Him. What a downer! They had just partaken of the bread—“This is my body”—and drunk the wine—“My blood will be shed for you. I will not drink this again until I drink it with you in the kingdom.” This meal cemented covenant loyalty, yet Jesus says, “You will all fall away.” How disheartening that must have been.
This failure to show loyalty, Jesus says, fulfills Zechariah 13:7: “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.” To understand this, we must look at the context of Zechariah 13:7. This passage looks forward to God’s climactic work in history. Zechariah 14:9 states, “The Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day, the Lord will be one and His name one.” The prophet pictures the Lord returning to His temple, Jerusalem’s place, refining His people so they truly belong to Him. The image is vivid: God calls His shepherd to be struck, and when the shepherd is struck, the sheep scatter. Yet, the prophecy doesn’t stop with judgment and scattering. Though many will be cut off, a remnant will be preserved, passing through the fire of refining. In the end, they will cry out to God, and He will say, “They are my people,” and they will say, “The Lord is my God.”
This is a mysterious passage, and interpreters have wrestled with its details for centuries. Who is the shepherd? Why is he struck? When does this happen? But the pattern is clear: God’s chosen Shepherd is struck, the flock scatters, but through this painful process, God purifies His people and renews His covenant with them. When Jesus quotes this passage on the night of His betrayal, He applies it directly to Himself and His disciples. He is the Shepherd, God’s Chosen One, the close companion of the Lord. His death will not be accidental or random but an outworking of God’s sovereign plan. Just as Zechariah foresaw the striking of the shepherd leading to the scattering of the sheep, the disciples, full of confidence and bravado, will run in fear and abandon Him. Yet, the prophecy carries hope. Jesus, knowing their weakness, gives them this comfort: “After I am raised, I will go ahead of them to Galilee.” The Shepherd who is struck will also be the Shepherd who regathers and restores His sheep.
The core message of Zechariah is this: the Shepherd will be struck, the sheep scattered, but a remnant refined. We see the beauty of God’s plan of redemption. Jesus shows them that the cross will not be a mere mark of failure but the very means by which God refines His people, secures their salvation, and brings them into covenant fellowship with Himself. What begins as moments of great sorrow in the garden and at the cross will give way to joy and restoration in Galilee, where the Risen Shepherd will gather His little ones once again.
2. The Scattering of the Sheep Reveals Human Frailty and God’s Purpose
God commanding that the Shepherd be struck down and the sheep scattered is an integral refining process that will result in the creation of the new people of God. The passage in Zechariah speaks of this as a necessity leading to redemption. Returning to Mark 14:27, Jesus says, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter responds, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” Jesus replies, “Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” The Greek word translated “fall away” is skandalizo, from which we get “scandalized” or “offended.” The King James Version says, “All of you will be offended at me this night.” The emphasis is on the offense Jesus will cause the disciples. There was little risk of falling away when Jesus performed miracles, but now, with the scandal of the cross—a sign of defeat, a contradiction of their expectations of an earthly Messiah—they will be offended.
Scholar William Lane explains that to be offended at Jesus is the opposite of believing and delighting in Him. It implies a desire to disassociate from Him because too close an association invites the treatment He receives. When the Shepherd is struck down, the sheep scatter in every direction, having lost their rallying point. When Jesus is captured and crucified, His followers panic and flee. Mark 14:50 confirms, “And they all left Him and fled.” Peter, when interrogated, will curse and swear, saying, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about” (Mark 14:71). Yet, amidst this gloom, we take comfort that Jesus does not cast off His believing people because of their failures and imperfections. He knew who they were before He called them—wicked, guilty, and defiled—yet He loved them. He knows who they are after He called them—weak, erring, and frail men—yet He loves them. He has undertaken to save them, not despite their shortcomings, but in spite of them, and what He has undertaken to do, He will perform.
When we consider the disciples’ fall, we see God’s sovereign work and purpose. We take comfort that our Lord does not cast off His children. We also learn to be charitable in judging the conduct of fellow believers. We should not quickly assume someone lacks grace simply because we see weakness and imperfection. Our Master in heaven patiently bears with our frailties, so let us strive to bear with one another’s frailties, weaknesses, and sins. The Church of Christ is like a vast hospital. Having worked in an emergency department for years, I admit that when I walk through, I hold my breath—there are sick people all around. The church is similar. Jesus said, “I came not for the righteous but for the unrighteous. I came not for the well, but for the sick.” The church is a hospital where we are weak and in constant need of the tender care of the Great Physician. Complete healing will not come until the day of resurrection. As Jesus bears with His disciples who disown and flee from Him, He bears with us, sticks with us, and does not give up on us.
3. The Risen Shepherd Gathers His Flock for Restoration
The prophecy that the disciples will desert Jesus and be scattered is counterbalanced by the promise of a reunion in Galilee following the resurrection. Jesus says, “But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee” (Mark 14:28). Amazingly, they heard these words yet failed to believe them, hiding behind closed doors in despondency and doubt after the crucifixion. The angel at the tomb reiterates, “Go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you” (Mark 16:7). Galilee, where Jesus first called His disciples, becomes the place of restoration.
Notice the use of “Amen” or “Truly” in this text. In verse 30, Jesus says, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Typically, “Amen” is said after a statement to affirm its truth. But Jesus says “Amen” before His statements, a unique authority. In the Upper Room, He says, “Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (Mark 14:25). Matthew adds, “with you in the kingdom of God.” Jesus declares, “Amen, my blood is poured out for you. My body is given for you. We will drink again in the kingdom.” When Peter insists, “I will never deny you,” Jesus responds, “Amen, truly, this very night, you will deny me three times.” Put these together, and you see the bookends of the Christian life. Jesus says, “I’m going to give my body and blood for you, and you will disown me.” Yet, He adds, “After I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” He tells them, “You’re going to let me down, but I’m still committed to you. I’ll pick you up along the way, and we’ll meet in Galilee, you who will be hiding behind closed doors, despondent, and disoriented. We have a job to do, my friend.”
This mirrors our own reflection. We disown Jesus so many times, yet He says, “I will not let any of your failures come between us.” This grace is hard to fathom. Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables captures it vividly. Jean Valjean, unjustly imprisoned for years, emerges bitter and angry. A kind bishop welcomes him, but Valjean steals his silver and flees. When caught, the bishop shockingly says, “I gave him the silver,” and hands him two candlesticks, adding, “You forgot these.” Alone with Valjean, the bishop says, “My brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I have brought back for God.” Hugo writes that Valjean was shaken by this “trauma of grace,” his hardness cracking under this celestial kindness. This is the grace Jesus shows His disciples, saying, “You will disown me, but I will meet you in Galilee.”
Jesus’ salvation does not depend on the disciples’ fallible commitment but on His infallible commitment to them. The Westminster Confession of Faith (18.2) states that the Christian’s assurance is founded on the divine truth of God’s promises. Christ’s grace, death, and life are the anchor for our soul. Verse 28 reveals His steadfast love: “After I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Galilee is where it all began, and now He promises to meet them there again. They will forsake Him, but He will not forsake them. Even in our failure, Jesus goes before us, meeting us where grace began. Puritan Anthony Burgess reminds us that true assurance rests not on our performance but on Christ’s unwavering promise. It is more noble to rely on God’s promise in Christ than to seek assurance in our own hearts. While examining ourselves is vital, assurance comes primarily from God’s faithfulness in the gospel.
Despite the sobering judgment of “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,” the opposite is also true: Restore the Shepherd, and the sheep will be gathered. Scripture promises that the nations will stream to God’s glory. On that dark night, the sheep fled, and Peter denied Him. But on the third day, the Shepherd rose, gathering the scattered ones, speaking peace and forgiveness. From that little group, He drew the nations to Himself—one flock under one Shepherd. We are here because of it. The striking of the Shepherd was not the end but the means by which God gathered His people. No matter how far you have been scattered or how badly you have failed, the Risen Shepherd seeks you, gathering the proud, the doubter, the fearful, the sinners, and the rebels, bringing them home.
This regathering in Galilee was not a one-time event but a pattern of Jesus’ intercessory ministry. His gathering continues in His ascended reign, as His people gather around His Word and sacraments. Every Lord’s Day is a kind of Galilee moment—a place of return, recommissioning, and reassurance. The fact that Jesus met His disciples in Galilee signifies not only forgiveness but also purpose. We are never less than forgiven, but always more than a forgiven people. We were made to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Jesus says, “We have work to do. We have a life to live for the glory of the Father.”
Conclusion: Living for the Risen Shepherd
Take heart and take action. Worship the Risen Shepherd, extend His grace to others, and share this gospel with a disjointed world that needs His gathering love. It takes courage not to disown or be offended when we walk this way of faith. Let us pray that the Lord, by His Spirit, would gather more sheep into His fold and use us to that end, right here in Lebanon Valley PCA, that more would say, “The Lord is my God,” and the Lord will say, “You are my people.”
Let us pray:
Gracious Father, You have sent Your Son as our Shepherd to be struck for our salvation. Even as we sang in that song, the power of the cross, the weight of sin, the wrath that we carried, the Savior took for us on the cross. Oh, what a work, what a gift of grace, what a pardon! Grant that those who do not know that Savior may hear Your gospel and trust in Him. Fill us as Your people with Your Spirit, that we may grow in faith and follow our Risen Lord with courage and love Him because He first loved us. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.