"An hour is coming (ερχεται) even has come (εληλυθεν)," but this hour is not merely any hour (John 16:32). This hour is "the" hour! Jesus prayed, "Father, the hour has come" (εληλυθεν) for the glorification of the Son (John 17:1, cf. John 2:4; 7:6). The time has arrived for the greatest event in human history to take place. The enmity between the seed of Satan and the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15) will come to its decisive hour.
Jesus must face this battle alone. The hour has come for the disciples to leave Him alone as they are scattered (John 16:32) each to his own (εκαστος εις τα ιδια). When we are scattered from the Lord and each other, we individually (each one - εκαστος) enter into (εις) our own things (τα ιδια). The expression is used for John taking Jesus' mother into his own household (John 19:27). It could be translated "each for himself." The adjective is neuter plural referring to our possessions and our relationships. Our human nature drives us to seek our own personal goals - the matters we control - whenever we abandon the Lord.
The scattering (σκορπισθητε) and subsequent abandonment (αφητε) are introduced by an important conjunction (ινα). The conjunction can be translated simply "that" indicating the content of the hour coming upon them, or it could be translated "when you are scattered" (Dana and Mantey, Grammar, pp. 248-249). However, the original and most common use of ινα was to introduce a purpose clause. In fact, ινα plus a subjunctive verb became "almost the exclusive means of expressing purpose" (A. T. Robertson, Grammar, p. 982). The scattering (σκορπισθητε) and the abandoning (αφητε) are both subjunctive verbs so this is best understood as a purpose behind the coming hour.
Jesus used the scattering (σκορπιζει) of the sheep as a description of Satan's work (John 10:12) when the hireling shepherd abandons his sheep. Jesus didn't abandon His sheep, but Satan did scatter the sheep in this hour. Satan's scattering work must be seen as within the scope of God's overall purpose. In the garden at His betrayal, Jesus said, "All this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets. Then all the disciples left him and fled" (Mt. 26:56). Zechariah had predicted the scattering when he wrote, "Strike the Shepherd that the sheep may be scattered' (Zech. 12:7). God intended to scatter the sheep leaving Jesus alone to battle Satan on the cross. The apparent victory of Satan was part of God's sovereign plan for the disciples.
Satan's work accomplishes God's purpose. We cannot understand, sometimes, why Satan seems to win in this world. We scatter, like the disciples, to pursue our own things in life feeling like Satan has won; forgetting, in our despair, that God has a purpose even in the victories of Satan!
One example of God's purpose: We were discussing in our apologetics class Monday night that the fact of the disciples fear and scattering is evidence of Christ's resurrection power as they later were emboldened to preach. This even in the face of danger and accusations of their having stolen Jesus' body. The contrast in their behaviors before and after is a powerful testimony to the impact of the truth of Jesus' resurrection.
ReplyDeleteOne example of God's purpose: We were discussing in our apologetics class Monday night that the fact of the disciples fear and scattering is evidence of Christ's resurrection power as they later were emboldened to preach. This even in the face of danger and accusations of their having stolen Jesus' body. The contrast in their behaviors before and after is a powerful testimony to the impact of the truth of Jesus' resurrection.
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ReplyDeleteThanks Wayne. That is a good example of the principle. God used their scattering as proof of His resurrection power in their lives.
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