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Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 186

A case in point

Text: John 13 : 21 - 38

A CASE IN POINT

Jesus had just spoken to His Disciples about His death. He had also told them that they would be on their own, at least for a little while. They would not be able to follow Him immediately.

He spoke about how the Disciples must pray about being more loving to each other. They were still very much individualistic in their approaches. Peter’s outburst was a case in point! He and the others were not a cohesive whole just yet.

Without reference to the other disciples, Peter took Jesus to task concerning what He had just said.

“Lord, where are You going?”

John 13:36

Peter had not fully comprehended what Jesus had just said! He had been preparing His Disciples for the event of His death. He had used cryptic language when He spoke to the Jews concerning His death. Of course they had not understood Him at all. This was reflected in this text.

“So the Jews said,
‘Will He kill Himself, because He says,
“Where I go you cannot come”?'”

John 8:22

Jesus had used the same cryptic reference to His death. Would His own Disciples understand Him better? Apparently not, judging by Peter’s response to Jesus.

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO AID COMPREHENSION

Jesus tried to help Peter understand Him by reiterating what He said earlier.

“Where I am going you cannot follow Me now,
but you shall follow Me afterward.”

John 13:36

Did those words help Peter much? The emotions of the leading Disciple had been stirred. Once his emotions were stirred, they affected his thinking skills. Peter was not to be denied. He pressed his point further.

“Lord, why can I not follow You now?
I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

John 13:37

Peter’s outburst reflected that he had not understood a number of things.

1. He had not understood himself

He had overstated his spiritual strength. He had declared that he was willing and able to even lay down his life for Jesus! Brave words, but how realistic were they?

2. He had not understood Jesus

Jesus had spoken about His death. He was going to fulfill the plan of redemption that His Father had planned. Only Jesus could fulfill that plan. None of His Disciples would be able to help Him in the carrying out of that plan of salvation.

3. He had failed to take into consideration his fellow-disciples

How did they feel? Peter was most conscious of the strength of his commitment even as he declared his loyalty to Jesus. We have this well recorded in Mark’s Gospel.

“Peter said to Him,
‘Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.'”

Mark 14:29

Peter did not have a whole lot of affection or cohesion with his friends when he said these words. He saw them as being different. He was made of sterner stuff. They might stumble but he never would!

4. He had failed to understand that a greater power was involved

Jesus knew that Satan was out to get Peter. He had already entered Judas. He would make a plan on Peter too. He needed the special protective power of Jesus.

“And the Lord said,
‘Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you,
that he may sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;
and when you have returned to Me,
strengthen your brethren.'”

Luke 22:31-32

JESUS’ DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HIS DISCIPLES

Peter protested vehemently that he would never betray Jesus. This was well captured in Mark’s Gospel.

“But he (Peter) spoke more vehemently,
‘If I have to die with You, I will not deny You.’
And they all said likewise.”

Mark 14:31

Jesus knew His Disciples far better than they knew themselves. He knew that at this point in time, Peter and his fellow-disciples were all so heated up they could not understand or accept what Jesus said. The discussion on this particular subject was closed with this final statement from Jesus.

“Will you lay down your life for My sake?
Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow
till you have denied Me three times.”

John 13:38