What does Luke 22:29 mean?
As Jesus speaks, He knows Judas has met with Jerusalem's religious leaders. They discussed how to lead guards and servants to the Mount of Olives to arrest Jesus and put Him on trial. He knows the other disciples will fall asleep instead of praying to remain strong in temptation. He knows that the disciples will flee when He is arrested and that, while He is being interrogated and beaten, Peter will deny Him.Even now, the disciples are arguing over who will be the greatest in His kingdom. Jesus has explained that His kingdom is not about status but serving. Despite this, Jesus gives them a hope to hold onto: they will be leaders in His kingdom.
First, they have a role in God's kingdom now. This is God's influence over the world: the manifestation of His glory and sovereignty. The disciples display this authority by staying with Jesus during His trials (Luke 22:28). This seems to mean Jesus' earthly life and the temptations which came with it (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). After the ascension, they will have the authority to spread the good news in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). They will be the leaders of the church, representing Jesus' rule and blessing to the world.
But the structure of the kingdom of God is not as simple and its fulfillment not as quick as they think.
1. God the Father chose God the Son to save the world and rule before the world was created (1 Peter 1:19–21).Those roles will include honor and responsibility. The disciples will sit at Jesus' table and judge over Israel (Luke 22:30). When will that happen? That's up to God the Father (Acts 1:6–7). First, they have a job to do: spreading the gospel and building the church (Acts 1:8).
2. God the Father sent God the Son as a sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16).
3. God the Son chooses to lay down His life (John 10:18).
4. God the Father will give God the Son dominion over the world (Daniel 7:13–14; 1 Corinthians 15:27).
5. God the Son will vanquish His enemies and return the kingdom to God the Father (1 Corinthians 15:24–26).
6. God the Father has prepared roles for the disciples (Matthew 20:23).
7. God the Father gives Jesus the authority to assign those roles.