Lent 44: So very human

He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? ..."  Luke 22: 46

Tonight I went to a Maundy Thursday vigil where we sit in silence from the end of the service (20.30ish) until midnight.  I lasted until 22.45 and then my eyelids were drooping and my mind was too fuzzy even to think, let alone pray.

Jesus needed the disciples to be with him, spiritually and mentally, while he underwent one of the most challenging times of his life.  Jesus needed to know that his friends and companions were somehow with him, and they weren't able to give that to him.  I get the impression that they never fully absorbed the gravity of his words about his forthcoming suffering and death.  It certainly feels like they didn't really ever believe it would happen. 

Then, when Jesus is arrested, one of the disciples cuts off the ear of a slave.  Jesus promptly puts a stop to the violence and heals the slave.  Even when he is being arrested, Jesus continues to undermine violence of any kind.  The disciples still, even at this point, somehow didn't get it. 

Then Peter, even after being told he would deny Jesus and insisting that this would never happen, denies three times that he had anything to do with Jesus.

The disciples were so very human, right to the end.  They blundered about getting some stuff right and a lot of stuff wrong.  They came from all kinds of backgrounds, had messy histories and said a lot of stupid things.  But Jesus loved them and used them. 

Anyone else find that rather comforting?