Let's finish looking at John 13. The part of the chapter details Jesus prediction of Peter's betrayal. There are a lot of other things sprinkled in that should not be missed. It's time to take a look.
When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[c] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Last week we learned that a difficult period is ahead for the disciples. Jesus is giving a few more clues to what is included in this difficult time. Jesus tells these men that he would not be around for much longer. He also told them that they can't come where Jesus will be. None of this could be classified as encouragement. Just think of this. The leader is leaving and there is no way to find him. I don't know about you but I have a lot more confidence when the leader is present. I may not need to call on the leader but I have the option if needed. What else? The disciples must of been confused. They don't understand what is going to happen. When confusion meets fear or loneliness, it feels overwhelming.
Peter is just PETER!! You have to love him! He wants to get down to the bottom of all of this. He wants clarification! Where are you going, Jesus? I'll go with you? Hadn't PETER heard Jesus? "Where I am going, you cannot come!" Of course He had. Peter wasn't going to take this news without exercising his own will. He reminds me of myself. I can fight against what Jesus wants in my life. Jesus had told Peter and the rest some of what would happen. This was uncomfortable so Peter was going to take some control. Jesus was calm but fully in charge and told Peter that he couldn't come now but in the right time he would. In God's economy, timing is everything. There are many instances that God allows us to partake in but only when it's His time for it. Peter begs with Jesus and claims his alligience very strongly. Peter's words were strong but he was going to be unable to follow through in his own strength.
Long after this event, Jesus words probably rang in the disciples ears. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” These were the most important words spoken. Jesus knew what the disciples needed to know to carry on the work. It wasn't overly complicated. Love is the key. They had been loved by Jesus. They had seen and will see in the final hours of his life, what love looks like. They were instructed to keep loving others in the same way. It is how people will know they are Jesus disciples. That means when they don't feel like loving. It is when someone offended one of them, love anyway. It is when the disciples have conflicts, work through them and show love. Jesus was addressing Peter's questions for most of the passage but what he wanted them to remember was to love others.
I can get caught up In the questions, my will and my confusion over a multitude of things. The most important thing is far more important than any of these. It is the love others. It's a simple instruction to understand but often very complicated to do. But very, very powerful!
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