John 16:31-32

‘Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? behold the hour is coming, yes it is here, that you will be scattered every man to his own and will leave me alone. And yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.”

Jesus calms their enthusiasm by facing them up with the truth. He is not rebuking them but giving them a gentle warning. He wants them to realise that their faith is not as strong as they think it is. They think that now they truly believe in what He is, but this is not true, for shortly they will desert Him for the safety of their homes and friends, leaving Him strictly alone. It is noteworthy that Peter says nothing. Is he still remembering Jesus' words in John 13:38? Note how their lack of belief is to be indicated by their lack of faithfulness. It is ever so.

Yet in a strange way this will later be a source of comfort. They will be disappointed in themselves but they will be aware that He knew all the time what they would do and loved them still.

‘You will be scattered.' Compare on this Zechariah 13:7. The striking of the shepherd always results in the scattering of the sheep. But in this case He will be able to gather them together again, just as in Zechariah it led to the people saying ‘the Lord is my God'.

‘And yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.' There is One Who will not fail Him, Who will be with Him through all He has to face. He has full confidence in the Father. Even when He cries in His agony feeling the lack of the Father's presence, His Father will be there. He will not be left totally alone.