Have you ever made up your mind to do a thing but then some other thing comes up and derails your plan? Confused, in doubt, and completely dishevelled, you now have scattered intentions.
In Matthew 26:31-35 (TPT) we read,
Along the way Jesus said to
them, “Before the night is over, you will all desert me. This will fulfill the
prophecy of the Scripture that says: I will strike down the shepherd and all
the sheep will scatter far and wide! “But after I am risen, I will go ahead of
you to Galilee and will meet you there.” Then Peter spoke up and said, “Even if
all the rest lose courage and fall away, I will still be beside you, Jesus!”
“Are you sure, Peter?” Jesus said. “In fact, before the rooster crows a few
hours from now, you will have denied me three times.” Peter replied, “I
absolutely will never deny you, even if I have to die with you!” And all the
others said the same thing.
All the disciples had made up their minds about what they would do but Jesus knew what would actually happen, not that their intentions weren’t in the right place however, in the heat of what was to occur, those intentions, like them, would scatter.
Even though they’d been with Jesus for the last three years,
when faced with the grim reality of that night, the disciples would become
overwhelmed, confused, afraid, unsure, unclear, and disappear into the
nighttime blackness.
Jesus knew that His disciples would scatter, He told them,
but they did not believe that about themselves. How could Jesus even say that
about them? Like Peter, they too were adamant – I
absolutely will never deny you! – they had no intention of deserting
their beloved Rabbi.
The disciples’ intentions were sincere and no doubt, Jesus’
words must have hurt but like any good shepherd, He knows His sheep. Jesus is
the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the
sheep; He has power to lay it down, and power to take it again (see
John 10:11-18).
Beloved, you belong to Jesus’ flock, He knows you, He knows that your initial intentions were sincere and He understands that sometimes you become doubtful, unsure, afraid, overwhelmed and you fall away as a result of your now scattered intentions, and just as He, in love, assured the disciples, after I am risen, I will go ahead of you…and will meet you there, today He, in love, is giving you that same assurance, He will arise and meet you wherever you are right now, just as you are.
Amen †
Shelley Johnson “Scattered Intentions” ©2026 March 20, 2026
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