seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 13:31 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!
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Here's the link to the commentary I read.
Now the Son of Man is glorified: When Judas left Jesus knew that everything was set in motion for His arrest, trials, humiliation, condemnation, beatings, crucifixion, and burial. He spoke of coming death as glorification (John 12:23). Now it was to happen.
Little children: This is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus addressed His disciples as little children. He didn’t mean it as an insult. He meant it with a sense of tenderness, care, and recognition of their present dependence and immaturity.
I shall be with you a little while longer... Where I am going, you cannot come: This would have been like an earthquake to the disciples. They had literally left everything to follow Jesus, and expected to be high-ranking officials in His government when He took political control of Israel as Messiah. After three years they now heard Him say He would leave.
A new commandment: The specific ancient Greek work used here for new here implies freshness, or the opposite of outworn, rather than recent or different. It isn’t that this commandment was just invented, but it will be presented in a new, fresh way.
That you love one another: We might have thought the new commandment was for us to love Jesus in an outstanding way. Instead, Jesus directed them and us to love one another, emphasizing that there should be a special presence of love among followers of Jesus Christ.
As I have loved you: The command to love wasn’t new; but the extent of love just displayed by Jesus was new, as would be the display of the cross. Love was newly defined from His example.
“We are to love our neighbor as ourselves, but we are to love our fellow-Christians as, Christ loved us, and that is far more than we love ourselves.” (Spurgeon)
By this all will know that you are My disciples: Jesus said that love would be the identifying mark of His disciples. It wasn’t that love for the outside world was not important or relevant, but it wasn’t first. There are other measures of discipleship, but they come after this mark.
Lord, where are You going: Peter (and the other disciples) did not yet understand Jesus. Peter perhaps thought that Jesus was going on a long journey without them. Peter wanted more of an explanation.
Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward: Peter didn’t understand, but Jesus did. Jesus understood that Peter could not follow Him unto death now, but afterward he would.
Lord, why can I not follow You now: Peter knew he was the disciple of Jesus, and the disciple’s duty was the follow the rabbi. Peter felt so committed to his discipleship to Jesus that not only would he follow Him, but also lay down my life for Your sake.
Till you have denied Me three times: Peter confidently said that he would follow Jesus and even die for him. Yet when the test came he could not stand being laughed at for Jesus’ sake. To him, a servant-girl’s tongue was sharper than an executioner’s sword. Before the next morning dawned he would deny he even knew Jesus three times.
“When Peter protested, our Lord showed him that He knew all the weakness lurking within him better than he himself could know it.” (Morgan)
“Cockcrow was the third of the four Roman night-watches, halfway between midnight and dawn.” (Bruce)
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Wait! Why doesn't John write about how Thomas feels about Jesus taking off? After all, Thomas was Jesus' twin on earth. If the guard saw Thomas, they would think they got Jesus! Thomas was safer with Jesus than without Jesus by his side.
I'm reading from Daniel, through the Gospel of John, and the letters written by John to Revelation. John was Jesus' best human friend. I am trying to see the "End Times" prophecy without the other human input from tax collector, the doctor, or the leatherworker/evangelist.
This scene takes place right after the Last Supper. Judas has gone off to pick up his 30 pieces of silver. The others probably think he's gone to purchase supplies. John may have an inkling of what is going on, because Jesus said someone would betray Him. Then Jesus confided in John that the person about to betray Jesus would be the one that got his bread sopped.
So, Jesus and 11 Disciples are still "leaning" on the table enjoying the "Last Supper". Jesus knows Judas has gone to get the troops that will arrest Him in a little while.
Jesus gave the eleven their final instruction.
"Love One Another"
Peter wasn't taking that instruction leaning on the table. He had walked away from his home, business, friends, and a lot of his family to join up with Jesus. Jesus was, after all, the Messiah. Peter figured Jesus was about to run Rome out of Jerusalem, run the Pharisees and the Sadducees out of the Temple and take the throne! He gave up everything for the "cause".
Now Jesus is going to leave?????
Peter was really upset! Wouldn't you be?
"Love One Another"
Can't you just hear Peter going off? If this was a modern movie Peter would have a monologue and a close up shot, saying, "That's it? Love One Another???? I gave my whole life up for you, thinking you are the Messiah. I'm a hunted man because everyone knows I'm one of your Disciples! And now you are leaving? AND you're telling me I can't follow you! AND your only instruction is just 'Love One Another'".
I've heard a lot of preachers talk about the response Jesus gave Peter. I wonder if Jesus used a sympathetic tone, as most of the preachers teach. Peter, the one who wants to sit on a throne right beside Jesus when He takes over Jerusalem, would have been very angry at Jesus and the circumstances.
Jesus sent Judas off to do something, and then He says He's leaving and no one should follow. Did Peter see that as a betrayal? Did Peter think Jesus and Judas had something cooked up? Did Peter get angrier at the thought of being left behind for that thief Judas??? Did they do all those fundraisers for nothing?
IMHO, I think Jesus would have selected a sarcastic tone.
I think in a movie of the event in today's lingo, Jesus would have almost smirked. "You don't even have the guts to make it through the night!"
Jesus knew what was coming. Peter was just a human with an agenda. Peter wanted to rule Jerusalem. Peter wanted to be the man to make his mommy proud.
My Online Bible titled these verses "Jesus predicts Peter's denial".
I keep hearing this title.
"You won't even make it through the night!"
