31 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, 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!
Read John 13:31-38 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
One of the greatest examples of failure in the entire Bible comes through what happens to Jesus’ “star” disciple. Simon Peter was one member of Jesus’ inner circle of three disciples, and he was way more vocal than James and John, who were the other two members in this group.
During the supper Jesus had with His disciples on the night He was betrayed and arrested, John tells us that Jesus let the disciples know that He is going away, and He is going to a place they cannot come. Simon Peter speaks up and asks, “Lord, where are you going?” (v. 36a)
Jesus answers, but doesn’t really answer, Peter’s question by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” (v. 36b)
In this response, Jesus hints at Him facing death, and it seems as though Peter picks up on this with his follow-up statement, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” (v. 37)
As I read this event in the other gospels, I imagine that Jesus’ next statement is the one Luke records at this point in his gospel. Luke tells us Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
According to Luke, Simon Peter next responds by saying, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33)
In our blend of these two gospels, Simon Peter emphasizes his loyalty to Jesus twice, in two different ways, in about as devoted as he knows how to say it. Peter tells everyone present that he is willing to give his life for Jesus.
But Jesus’ final words are among the most challenging for Peter to hear. Jesus responds to Peter’s declaration saying, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (v. 38)
What Jesus predicted happened. Peter ran away with the rest of the disciples when Jesus was arrested, and when He follows at a distance, he also distanced himself from Jesus three times that night out of fear.
But Peter’s story doesn’t end negatively. Jesus’ prayer in Luke’s gospel is answered, and following Peter’s denial and Jesus’ resurrection, Peter is found with the rest of the disciples, and Jesus forgives him.
When we stumble, fall, fail, and mess up our walk with Jesus, it helps to know that Jesus has prayed for us. Our real failure never comes from falling down or messing up, it comes from not stepping back up, not forgiving ourselves, and not recommitting to continue moving forward towards Jesus. God is ready to forgive us when we stumble, but we must be willing to get back up and continue moving forward with Him!
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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