“Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.” “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.” Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” John 13:36-38
Here, Jesus had told His disciples many things. He had said that they should serve each other the way He had them & that one of them would betray Him. He’d told them to love each other the way He had loved them. Here, He confirms what they are beginning to fear–He is about to die, something none of them REALLY understood.
Peter asks Jesus, “where are You going?” Jesus replies, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.” Peter obviously understands the seriousness of what Jesus is saying because he replies, “But why can’t I come now, Lord? I’m ready to die for you.”
Peter gets it and he truely believes that he is ready to lay his life down for Jesus, but Peter’s missing something: HUMILITY!
In Matt. 26:33, we get a clearer picture. “Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Peter speaks out of his own understanding and strength. He brags, (& I can picture his gestures) “even if all these OTHER guys (refering to the other disciples) deserts you, I never will! I can just see the other discples rolling their eyes now!
Jesus’ response was gentle, yet firm. “Peter”, He says, “before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” That’s less than 6 or 8 hours away! Peter was a strong man–a rugged fisherman! What could possibly detour his love and loyalty for Jesus in such a short time? We’ll soon find out, but here’s the deal: Peter, in that moment, was willing to follow Jesus, but not prepared to! Peter still believed in & relied on his own strength to carry this out. He needed God’s strength! He’d soon have it! Do you?
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