<p>18:21 <em>Why do you ask me? Ask those that have heard me what I spoke to them. Behold, these know the things which I said</em>- The Lord was rather critical of the disciples when speaking directly with them, especially concerning their lack of understanding and recall of His previous teachings. But in prayer to the Father in chapter 17 and now in talking about them to others, He is extremely positive about them; just as He is about us with all our weaknesses of understanding and behaviour. He states here that those who heard Him, His disciples (:19), could tell anyone what He had taught. He is setting up a parallel between His teaching and that of the disciples, knowing that soon they were to continue His teaching work in the world.</p><p>Peter would have reflected how his denial had been in spite of the fact that the Lord had prayed he wouldn&rsquo;t do it- even though He foresaw that Peter would. Just a short time before the denials He had commented, probably in earshot of Peter and John, &ldquo;ask those that have heard me, what I spake unto them&rdquo;. Perhaps He nodded towards them both as He said it, to encourage them to speak up rather than slip further into the temptation of keeping quiet. He had used the same phrase earlier, just hours before: &ldquo;These things have I spoken unto <em>you</em>&rdquo; (Jn. 16:33).</p>