In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 13:31-38[HCSB])

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.

33 “Children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’ so now I tell you.

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

36 “Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going? ”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You! ”

38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

Peter’s denial predicted

When Judas went out Jesus spoke into the immediacy of the events to follow; how they would accelerate to their conclusion more rapidly than anyone could have imagined. This because all of the necessary elements were in place for the cross to lift up and glorify Jesus:

That night and the ensuing day would see the ministry of Jesus come to fruition in an alarming, though openly prophesied, sequence.

In this way, today, “Judas has gone out,” and all of the elements are in place for a quickened and deliberate drive toward the second coming of Jesus to lift up His bride the universal Church.

The question on Jesus lips for us who claim His Church is the same as it was for Peter, “Will you lay down your life for Me?”

While there is no record in John of his response, Peter must have been incredulous at what he heard … because what Jesus told him was that he would completely disown his Lord:

Not just deny his association with Him, but to separate himself from Jesus not once but three times.

See 1 Corinthians 10:12 as offered up by Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

Note: The most secure are commonly the least safe; and those most shamefully betray their own weakness that most confidently presume upon their own strength. (pg 893)

Our strength must be in Jesus and Him alone.