When You Knew It Was Coming
There’s a strange comfort in knowing the storm will pass — even when you still have to walk through it.
Years ago, a pastor told of flying through a thunderstorm. The turbulence was fierce; people were gripping their seats and whispering prayers. Then, the pilot’s calm voice came over the intercom: “Folks, we’ll be through this in three minutes. Hang tight.”
The fear didn’t disappear, but the certainty changed everything.
They still bounced — but they believed.
That’s what’s happening in this passage. Jesus doesn’t merely predict the storm; He promises the sunrise. The Shepherd knows His sheep will scatter, but He also knows He’ll gather them again. This is not a story of surprise — it’s a story of sovereignty.
I. A Sacred Hymn — They Sang of Love Before They Left It
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (v. 26)
Imagine that scene. The Last Supper has ended. Judas has left. The air is thick with the weight of prophecy. And then — they sing.
The hymn would have been the Hallel, Psalms 115–118 — the traditional closing song of the Passover. Those words would have filled the night:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:1)
The irony is staggering. They are singing of God’s steadfast love… moments before they forsake it.
Thomas Watson once said, “Sin is a contradiction to praise.” And yet here, even the contradiction serves grace. For while their song rises from trembling lips, the Lamb of God stands firm — ready to fulfill what they can only sing about.
Historical Note:
The Mount of Olives sits just east of Jerusalem — overlooking the Temple and leading down into the Garden of Gethsemane. This was the very path the scapegoat would take when sent outside the camp on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:21–22). The true scapegoat now walks that same route.
Application:
When you worship, remember — God is not impressed by perfect voices, but by surrendered hearts. Even if your praise feels weak or wavering, sing.
The Lord can turn even trembling worship into holy resolve.
Takeaway Task:
This week, before you pray or study, sing a Psalm aloud. Let the truth train your emotions. Praise before you feel ready — it’s often where faith begins to rise.
II. A Sovereign Prophecy — Even Failure Was Foretold
“Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” (v. 27)
Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7 — “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.”
This wasn’t a random prediction. It was the unfolding of a divine decree written centuries earlier.
Dr. Kenneth Gentry notes:
“The scattering of the sheep is as purposeful as the slaying of the Lamb.”
Their abandonment, as shameful as it would be, was still inside the sovereign plan of God.
That’s hard to swallow. We prefer our failures to be accidents, not appointments. But here we see something stunning — even our worst moments can be redeemed by divine design.
Martin Lloyd-Jones wrote, “There is no circumstance outside His control, and no failure beyond His reach.”
Think about that. Jesus not only knew their weakness — He walked toward it.
He didn’t warn them to humiliate; He warned them to prepare.
Application:
You will fail. Not if, but when. But your failure is never final when grace is in the story.
Even when you scatter, He does not change His direction. He still walks the road of redemption.
Takeaway Task:
Reflect on a moment when you failed God — and yet found His mercy waiting. Write it down.
Label it “Evidence of His Sovereignty.”
Let that record remind you that God weaves even your weakness into His work.
III. A Saving Promise — Grace Arrives Before the Guilt
“But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” (v. 28)
Before the sin was committed, forgiveness was already planned.
Before the rooster crowed, grace had already spoken.
Before the sheep scattered, the Shepherd had already set the meeting place: “I will go before you to Galilee.”
Voddie Baucham said, “God’s grace is so sovereign that He writes redemption into the story before sin ever enters the scene.”
Think of that — Jesus not only predicted their failure, He scheduled their restoration.
In Galilee, the risen Lord would greet them not with rebuke, but with renewal:
“Peace be with you.” (John 20:19)
“Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)
John MacArthur writes, “The Shepherd never loses sight of His sheep; He simply changes the field where He will find them.”
Application:
When you fall, don’t stay scattered. Go where grace has promised to meet you.
Jesus still meets sinners in Galilee — in the ordinary places of life, after the storm of failure.
He doesn’t wait for you to come crawling back; He goes before you.
Takeaway Task:
Where is your Galilee — the place Jesus keeps calling you back to after failure?
Maybe it’s Scripture you’ve neglected. Maybe it’s prayer, or community, or confession.
Go there this week. You’ll find Him waiting.
Closing Reflection — The Shepherd Still Sings
The night began with a hymn and ended with heartbreak.
But even as the disciples scattered, the melody of grace continued — because the Shepherd never lost His song.
Watchman Nee wrote, “Our rest is not in our faithfulness to Him, but in His faithfulness to us.”
And that’s the heart of this passage: the One who is struck still stands, the One who is abandoned still abides, and the One who was pierced still pursues.
So when your faith falters, remember this — He already planned Galilee.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Shepherd who goes before us, even when we stray.
Thank You that Your grace outruns our failure, that Your promises outlast our pride.
Teach us to trust Your plan, to sing even when we tremble, and to meet You where grace waits.
In Your strong and steadfast name we pray, amen.