Stricken Shepherd, Scattered Sheep

Jesus is leading His disciples from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane, warning and preparing them for what they do not understand or expect, to cushion the shock and to help them recover from it, giving them words that will eventually be of unlimited encouragement to them.

The theme of this short passage (Mt 26:31-35) is "Stricken Shepherd, Scattered Sheep." The point is that the Shepherd, Jesus Christ, will be stricken by God for the salvation of the Sheep. And the Sheep will indeed Scatter. But though they abandoned Him at His time of greatest need, they will be Regathered by their Shepherd who was Stricken in their place. And in all of this, we will see the unfailing, unbreakable, undeserved love of our Shepherd.

We will look at the Prophecy (v31) and Promise (v32) of Jesus as an example of His love for His sheep. And then look at Peter's Pride (vv33-35) as an example of Jesus love for one sheep. Our Shepherd cares for His sheep as a whole, but also personally, individually.

The wonderful principle of Scattering and Regathering will be highlighted.