How many of you are just like me? Don’t panic. I mean in that I eat without the actual work that goes into producing food? I may complain about the higher prices that result from lean years, but that is not the same as experiencing those lean years in the midst of working a field. In the same way, I drink milk without twice a day milkings. I think that on some level we all enjoy the results of other people’s labors. But some will attempt this with relationships and that boys and girls does not work. Play on words intended. I’m guessing that most relationships fall apart here. Can you enjoy a relationship without putting anything into it? I’m going to go out on a limb here and say “Nope!” You may enjoy momentary feel-good moments, but it is not relationship you are enjoying. The very term implies a joint working together.
Jesus is speaking during the last supper. He has told them about the significance of this meal. He has told them that one of them would betray them. They had postulated their opinions about what appears to be greatest in the Kingdom. Jesus postulated his own opinion. A laying down of status is greatness in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus is among them as one who serves. But what is their status? Who are they in the coming kingdom?
Jesus begins with “but you” in Luke 22:28-30. This may take us back to verse 24 and their love of quarreling about greatness. But you are the ones who have remained with me through trials. The word “remain through” is in the perfect tense which implies an action that began in the past but continues on. And that is interesting because in a very short amount of time they are going to scatter. Maybe for Jesus remaining through does not mean a perfect, never faltering, standing with him. Because every one of them did themselves some faltering during the apprehension, trial and execution of Jesus. And this may be a good news moment for us. The question of discipleship is quite simply, “Will you remain through” with Jesus when this life is hard? The disciples will be rewarded, not because they were great scholars or because they appeared great among their fellow Jews. They will be rewarded because they remained with Jesus through having no place to lay their head; through the scorn of the religious leaders; through the mass exodus of would be followers who traipsed away from Jesus when his sayings became difficult; through the lack of understanding; through the rebukes; through the etcetera.
And what reward are we talking about? Jesus tells them that he will confer upon them royal rule just as God conferred upon him royal rule. He explains this by speaking of the eschatological banquet prophesied in Isaiah 25:6ff. As they reign with Jesus, sitting on thrones and judging Israel, they will also eat and drink at his table. Isaiah speaks of this banquet that God prepares for all people. At this banquet there will be aged wine and choice food and death will be swallowed up and tears will be wiped away. And doesn’t that sound nice? But this prophesy also speaks about judgment. Moab will be judged, trodden down. Well, hmm. The sources I looked at seem to be in agreement that Moab represents pride. They are the people who refuse to come up to the table of God. And maybe Jesus is doing the same thing with the twelve tribes of Israel. Maybe. When someone has been given royal rule, one of their functions is that of judging; making decisions about justice. In 2 Samuel 15:1-6 Absalom worms his way into the hearts of the people by implying that he would be a better judge of justice than his father. He listens to them and sides with them and then sighed and said, “Oh, that someone would confer upon me royal rule, then I would give you justice. Oh well.” Crafty young man.
Is this reward for all those who remain through with Jesus, or is it only for the Twelve? In Revelation 2:26 Jesus promises that to those who overcome he will give authority over the nations. Well, that sounds like all who remain with Jesus will be given royal rule. Maybe in some significant way, the Twelve, minus Judas (replaced by Matthias), will judge the Twelve tribes of Israel. I don’t know. But I believe that if we remain through, we will also sit at the banquet of God; that in some way we will reign with our Lord. But we cannot hope to enjoy the reward without the work. Don’t get excited. I am not suggesting that we earn salvation here. I am suggesting that it is all about relationship and relationship implies a remaining through trials. This is work. There is growth here. There is reward here. We are brought into a relationship we can, in no way, earn. But it takes work to remain. Remain through brothers and sisters!