Luke chapter 22

vs 31

The TNIV includes the word 'all' here to show that the you is plural. That's nice. Which means apparently that Satan has all of the twelve targetted. Why then does Jesus point his comments directly at Simon Peter?

vs 32

Because Jesus is going to use Simon's three-times denial as an example. Poor Peter, remembered forever as the disciple who denied Christ three times. The fact that the rest more or less scattered is not nearly so well remembered.

Anyway, Jesus also sees Peter as a bit of a leader. Even though he is going to fail by denying Christ, Jesus already is talking about his redemption, and once it comes, it will be Simon Peter, the one who denied Christ, who will be looked to by his brothers for strength. Because adversity and struggles with faith make us closer to God. People who just coast through their Christian life and never go through any crises of faith are just that, really - coasters.

vs 33

Oh, how untrue that was.

vs 34

Ever since Jesus set foot in Jerusalem (or Bethany, to be more precise?) he has been going overtime with the prophetic knowledge. I wonder if all prophets were like this - I mean, most of the writing prophets we only have their written sermons, not transcripts of their everyday lives. And I hate to admit that I'm not familiar enough with those that do have such narrative to know whether they are like this all the time. Woe is me.

vs 35

We now see the value of the little short-term mission trip that Jesus sent them on. I might point out that it wasn't really cross-cultural (one kinda was, to Samaria), but that it instead was to people whose language they already spoke and culture they already understood (and I might add, to a people who were expecting a Messiah - we seem to forget that a lot).

Anyway, Jesus sent them on without extra stuff, and yet they never wanted for anything.

vs 36

Different message now, isn't it? Now Jesus wants them to be prepared. He wants them to be ready, to think ahead, to expect the unexpected. They still don't expect it, though.

vs 37

I don't think they need swords so that they are the transgressors he is numbered with. He'll be numbered with transgressors the moment he gets arrested. Of course, that's not the only bit of Scripture that is going to be fulfilled. Jesus knows that he's going to suffer, and die, but also come back, and restore mankind to himself. And it's rushing towards him.

vs 38

So what are the swords for? Sure, one guy gets an ear cut off, and Jesus can then say "No, it's not going to happen that way". But did Jesus want them to have swords just for that to happen? I don't think so. I think he was using swords as an illustration of readiness. If he really wanted them to have swords, why are 2 enough? Jesus I think just isn't going to bother explaining what he meant just now - there are more important things to happen.

vs 39

This was his regular routine, and that is how he gets caught. Judas sells him out on his nightly walk.

vs 40

It's a strange request. What exactly are they to pray for? What temptation will there be?