Mark 14:27, commentary and pictures

On the night of his betrayal Jesus warned all his disciples that they would stumble because of him and abandon him when he was struck down, fulfilling what was written of smiting the shepherd so the sheep are scattered. Even as he foretold their fall he promised that after he rose he would go before them into Galilee. Though they all vowed to stay with him even to prison and death, they trusted their own strength instead of watching and praying for help against temptation, and Peter above all boasted that he would never stumble though others did. Within hours Peter denied him under Satan's sifting, yet Christ's prayer for his faith and his compassionate mercy brought him to know himself and to bitter repentance without further boasting. Left at his death like sheep without a shepherd, helpless and disappointed with faith clouded by doubt, they felt more deeply how precious he was and how much they needed him, until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit transformed that same scattered company into a united fellowship of bold witnesses triumphing by the Word and Spirit alone.

Prediction and Its Fulfillment

Jesus warned that all the disciples would stumble, be offended because of him, falter and fail him, desert and abandon him that night when he was struck down. The warning included Peter despite his assurance that he would not stumble, and it applied to all who had promised to follow and remain faithful. This was the fulfillment of what was written, that the shepherd would be smitten and struck and the sheep scattered and turned away. He also promised that after he was risen he would go before them into Galilee.

In Gethsemane, at the critical moment when he most needed their sympathy and heartfelt prayers, they were asleep instead of supporting him. Although they had promised to remain with him even through imprisonment and death, they failed to stay awake and to give him the support he sought. The scattering took place during his arrest and suffering as he was led to Calvary. Those whose hopes had been raised by his triumphal entry followed at a distance in grief and disappointment, while the crowd turned from praising him to calling for his crucifixion, showing how quickly popular praise could turn against him.

After his death they were left like sheep without a shepherd when he was struck down. They were a helpless, disappointed and discouraged company whose Saviour had been rejected and condemned and nailed to the cross, and whose hope and courage collapsed with him. Their faith was clouded by doubt and confusion so that they could not recall his warning. Yet their separation from him made them feel more deeply than ever how much they loved him, how precious he was, and how much they needed him.

Self-Confidence, Failure, and Restoration

Although they promised to follow him and remain with him even to prison and death, they trusted in their own strength rather than looking to God for the help he had urged them to seek, and needed to watch and pray against temptation. When he most needed their sympathy and heartfelt prayers, they were asleep instead of supporting him. Peter in particular was confident he would remain faithful and not stumble even if others did, saying he would die with Jesus, which showed he trusted his own strength, boasted of being stronger than his brethren, and did not recognize his own danger.

Within hours Peter denied Jesus. At the same time Jesus warned that Satan sought to sift the disciples and said he had prayed for Peter's faith to endure. Failure led Peter to understand himself and repent bitterly, and Christ's mercy and compassionate look assured him of pardon, so that he no longer boasted.

After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that same scattered company was transformed in character. They were united in the bonds of Christian love. Going forth with no weapons but the Word and Spirit of God, they became bold witnesses for the truth to triumph over all opposition.