That
is what immediately precedes this verse. What immediately follows it continues
the pattern of failure. The next verse is his prediction that Peter will deny
him (22:31). Then they all go to Gethsemane, where he instructs them to pray
but they fall asleep (22:39f).
In
the midst of all that, Jesus praises them for sticking by him, and goes on to
promise that they will eat and drink at his table in God’s kingdom!
I
have always taken perverse pleasure in the failure of the disciples because it
enables me to see myself in them. And so I take great comfort in Jesus’ praise
of these bumbling failures as ones who stand by him. I assume what he means is
not that they succeed, but that they try. Peter is the great example. He
follows Jesus to the courtyard of the high priest’s house, where Jesus is being
“tried.” Peter denies Jesus. But he is there.
That
seems a lot like me. Following as best I can. Failing when tested. But still
trying to stay close by. Maybe I, maybe we, can hear Jesus’ promises to the
disciples as directed to us too, despite our failures. Hopefully that can help
us to keep trying to follow, even despite our failures.
Fr.
Harvey