Luke 22:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials,

NIV: You are those who have stood by me in my trials.

NASB: You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials;

CSB: You are those who stood by me in my trials.

NLT: You have stayed with me in my time of trial.

KJV: Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

NKJV: “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.

Jesus is talking about good leadership. The disciples have been arguing—again—about who is greatest. Jesus responds with a warning that leaders in the worldly system strive for power and then abuse it. Even those who do good exult in their title of "benefactor." The disciples should not look at leadership like that. They should look at Jesus' example: He who welcomes children and washes feet (Luke 18:15–16; John 13:1–17).

They know Jesus' leadership style because they have been with Him. They saw His hometown reject and try to murder Him (Luke 4:16–30). Countless times, they have seen the religious leaders try to best Him—even arrest Him. They know Herod Antipas wants to kill Him (Luke 13:31). They are slowly realizing that Jesus will die.

The disciples will flee when the soldiers arrest Jesus; this doesn't erase their belief in Him. They have traveled with and learned from Jesus for three years. They dropped everything when Jesus called, and they will be rewarded. They will rule; what they will rule is up to God, not their own "greatness." But they will eat at the table of the king and judge Israel (Luke 22:29–30).

The Twelve are not Jesus' only disciples. Shortly after Jesus sent out the Twelve to spread the news of the coming of the kingdom of God, He commissioned seventy-two with the same purpose and the same power. They were to preach the coming kingdom of God, to heal infirmities, and to cast out demons (Luke 9:1–6; 10:1–12). After Jesus' ascension, one hundred and twenty people will cram into a room in Jerusalem, waiting for the Holy Spirit. At least two of those present are men who were with Jesus from His baptism to after His resurrection; when Judas's place needs to be filled, they have options (Acts 1:12–26).

Luke 22:24–30 is the heart of Luke 22. The disciples have a choice: will they grasp for worldly power like the Gentiles or will they strive to be servant-leaders like their Messiah? New covenant leadership in God's kingdom is service. The disciples' self-involvement fits perfectly between Jesus' warnings of Judas's betrayal (Luke 22:21–23) and Peter's denials (Luke 22:31–34). Some scholars suggest this exchange provides a springboard for Jesus to wash the disciples' feet in a demonstration of servant leadership (John 13:1–17). This passage contains information unique to this gospel.

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke 23 continues Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod Antipas. He is then led to the cross where He forgives His murderers and saves a thief before He dies. In Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead, meets two disciples while they travel, and explains to them how the Old Testament prophesied the death of the Messiah. In the final scene of the gospel, Jesus is reunited with His disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.