29 His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly, and are not using a figure of speech. 30 Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God." 31 Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? 32 Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and [yet] I am not alone, because the Father is with Me."
Message: Jesus Predicts His Desertion
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: Upon the heels of Jesus communicating to his disciples that he hasn't been speaking plainly, using figurative language (v. 25), but this will change upon His glorification (13:31) and repeating also that He comes from the Father (v. 28), now the disciples understand. They haven't previously, but now they state they understand. They haven't been getting it up to this point, but they seem to be stating they get it now.
But Jesus doesn't completely think they do. He offers words in verse 31 I think that in a way states that their belief may still be wallowing and then offers in verse 32 that they will scatter soon. Jesus lets them know that the hour is approaching in which He will be not with them, but alone in appearance and yet the Father will be with Him as He is always.
The scattering that Jesus mentions has a similar idea possibly to Matthew 26:31, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.' The scattering is what Jesus is saying is a falling away or the sheep, the disciples here, will disperse (as John 21:3 speaks about).
Even the words of Psalm 69:20, "Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none." Jesus, among men, did not find those who gave him comfort by staying with Him, except for Peter and John who would stay close.
Summary: The disciples state that they now believe Jesus came from God. Jesus lets them know that they will soon scatter to their own areas and He will have the Father with Him, never alone.
Promise: We always have room to grow in our understanding of the Lord and His ways.
Prayer: Thank you Father for giving me understand and this study of Your Words. Help me to be an encouragement to others and help them see the light. And help me to be a person of faith always, not denying your ways but continuing to trust You.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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