Mark 14:27
“Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’”
What does Mark 14:27 mean?
Jesus is warning his disciples that when he's arrested that very night, their faith will be shaken and they'll scatter in fear. He's quoting a prophecy from Zechariah about the shepherd being struck down, which foreshadows his own suffering and death. What's tender about this moment is that Jesus isn't angry at them for what's about to happen; he's preparing them by acknowledging that their stumbling is part of God's larger purpose. Even in his darkest hours, he's thinking about their hearts and helping them understand that their coming doubt and fear aren't the end of the story.