Luke 22: 24-46, On the Way to a Garden

Jesus has one last meeting with this disciples in the upper room of a Jerusalem house.

Luke 22: 24-30, Who is the greatest?
Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

On the night of his arrest and trial, the disciples of Jesus are debating on who will rule in the kingdom!  Gosh, these humans are so petty!  Jesus loves these silly creatures! (Thankfully.)  He even plans for them to rule with him!

Luke 22: 31-34, Peter's failing faith
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

Simon, as always, is confident and eager.  It will be a rough night for him.

According to the NIV footnotes, the "you" in verse 31 is plural, so Jesus is speaking of all the disciples when he says, "Satan has asked to sift you..."

Luke 22: 35-38, Get ready 
Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" 

"Nothing," they answered.

He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: `And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."

The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.

Strife is coming, Jesus says.  The statements about a sword were intended only as metaphor, not as real advice.  The disciples miss all of that.

The disciples also miss -- again -- the dire predictions of the suffering Messiah. "He is numbered with the transgressors" comes from the Old Testament passage, Isaiah 53:12.  The entire chapter of Isaiah 53 is worth reading at this point, as it describes a Messiah, being bruised, beaten, and killed for Israel.

Luke 22: 39-46, The Mount of Olives
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

From the NIV footnotes: Some early manuscripts do not have verses 43 and 44, about the angel of "drops of blood".

The disciples are tired but the evening has just begun.