“Very Truly I tell
you”...Points to the Deity of Jesus...and the Reality of HEAVEN
IN HIS LIFE:
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you…
DAY 5
Read:
Luke 22:34 & Matthew 26:34
John 13:36-38, 14:1-4
John 13:36-38 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!
Reference: Jesus response/act and Prediction come TRUE…right BEFORE we have access to Heaven…and
Redemption with GOD
For
Discussion: Following the arrest
of Jesus, Peter denied knowing Him three times, but after the third
denial, he heard the rooster crow and recalled the prediction, as Jesus turned
to look at him. Peter then began to cry bitterly. This final
incident is known as the “Repentance of Peter.”
Peter's inability to follow Him is due in part to
Peter's own unreadiness, as his coming denial exhibits. But Peter is also
UNABLE because the way has NOT yet been opened through the death and
resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus encourages Peter by saying that this
inability is temporary and that he will
follow later. This promise
will be fulfilled after Peter's death, but it will also be fulfilled after the
resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Peter claims he would lay down his life for Jesus
(v. 37). But he does not know his own heart, for Jesus says, before the
rooster crows, you will disown me three times! (v. 38). If Peter were to lay down his life for Jesus
that night, it would be his own selfish act of martyrdom rather than an act of
obedience to the Father. But in fact he
is not really able to lay down his life for Jesus at this point. Despite his
own estimate of his devotion, his love is still too selfish and he does not YET
have the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT. The Lord will bring him to a NEW stage of
maturation AFTER the resurrection.
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