What did the disciples do on the occasion when their Master once again so trustingly opened His heart to them? Again they were discussing which of them was the greatest. Instead of showing compassion, they behaved egotistically and selfishly. What insensitivity and ignorance—and this in the hour when Christ would have valued their help so much! He had waited for compassion and there was none, and for comforters and He found none (Ps. 69:20).

How did He react to the behavior of His disciples in this situation? Moses lost his temper once after the people had grumbled at least ten times. But there was no such thing with the perfect, heavenly Man. With admirable gentleness, the Lord first explained to His disciples what true greatness in the kingdom of God means—without directly accusing them of their failures or sharply rebuking them. But then He goes even one step further and says, “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials” (Lk. 22:28). Amazing! Was this the moment to remember their faithfulness, which was actually more than questionable? Was this the right time to put them in such a good light, when just a moment ago they had behaved so carnally? For the natural man it would not have been the right time, but for the Son of Man it was exactly the right moment.

Instead of getting angry and giving the disciples a piece of His mind, the Lord praised them and even promised them great reward in the kingdom of God. Did He not know that the same disciples would sleep in the hour of His temptation in Gethsemane—and that, even in spite of the exhortation to watch? Most certainly! After all, He had already told Peter that he would soon deny Him three times, and to all the others He had foretold that they would all leave Him. How He endured these men in meekness and love! He is the example from which we are to learn!