Lent - Day 41 - Scattered and Gathered

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025
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     Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 

     Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. 

     Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.'

Matthew 26:26-46

What a trying time. In this chapter, Jesus foretells how the disciples will respond to what they will face on Good Friday. They will see their Lord taken from them and they will be scattered. Yet Jesus also tells them that when He has risen He will go ahead of them into Galilee. 

There, in Galilee, even though they have deserted, even though they have been scattered, the Shepherd once again would gather His sheep. Praise God that He continues to pursue, gather, and strengthen His sheep at all times. By His grace, we have been saved. By His persistence, we are continually brought to repentance. By His determination, we are held in faith.

Prayer:

Almighty God, 

                        We are so grateful that You continually gather and call us to You. Amen.

Scattered

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.

But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
Acts 8:1,4 NLT

Scattered. Persecuted. Running for their lives! All because they were believers... It was bad! They were being hunted and thrown in prison and killed just for being Christians. Did it stop them? Did they forever go into hiding? Did it paralyze them in fear? No! The Bible says they preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. [emphasis mine]

They had recently watched Jesus die on the Cross. All hope should have been gone... but they had met the Master. They witnessed His everyday-walking-around life and they had been changed forever... and because of it, they were changing the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. The blessed salvation message - all while scattered. Not in their homes. Not with their families. Not with their friends. Scattered. Spread the Word; the Good News wherever you are scattered.

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to fix our hearts and minds on You. Let nothing get in the way of sharing Your Good News to a lost and dying world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Scattered

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria...
But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. 
Acts 8:1b, 4 NLT

A great wave of persecution... If you read the historical accounts about the persecution of Christians that began following the stoning of Stephen, it is quite horrifying. Saul licensed with the authority to go house-to-house to throw men and women into prison for being believers. Christians used as sport in the Roman Coliseum against insurmountable odds. As human torches to light Nero's garden. Believers fleeing the city for their very lives.

Two things stand out to me in the ensuing verses. 

One: People were sure beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the Christ - that He was exactly who He said He was - and IS. You don't continue to stand against all odds - and death - unless you know that you know...

Two: Believers who may never have left the city otherwise, scattered in all directions and the Word tells us they preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. If you're fleeing from persecution, you don't normally stop to teach people about the very Gospel that is the reason you're running away from town.

They may have been scattered, but they were also scattering seed everywhere they went!

Prayer:

Father,
           May we always walk in the courage of our conviction about Christ, no matter where we may end up. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen