“Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.”
My Notes
What Does John 13:36 Mean?
Peter asks where Jesus is going; Jesus answers: where I'm going, you can't follow now — but you will follow afterward. The answer is both a gentle refusal and a prophetic promise. The destination (the cross, then the Father) is currently inaccessible to Peter. But it won't always be.
The word "afterwards" (husteron) means later, in the future. Peter will indeed follow Jesus to death — tradition records Peter's crucifixion in Rome, reportedly upside down at his own request. Jesus' prophecy isn't just about Peter eventually reaching heaven. It's about Peter eventually following the same path of suffering that Jesus is about to walk.
The "canst not follow me now" reveals Peter's current unreadiness. Peter thinks he's ready (verse 37: "I will lay down my life for thy sake"). Jesus knows Peter isn't (verse 38: "the cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice"). The gap between Peter's self-assessment and Jesus' knowledge of Peter is the space where Peter's greatest failure will occur.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where has Jesus told you 'not now, but afterwards' — and are you still waiting for the afterwards?
- 2.How does the gap between Peter's self-assessment (ready) and Jesus' knowledge (not yet) apply to your own readiness?
- 3.Does knowing Peter eventually followed (to crucifixion) change how you view his initial failure?
- 4.What 'afterwards' has Jesus spoken over you that your current 'now' can't yet reach?
Devotional
Where are you going? Peter asks the question of a man who doesn't know yet how the night will end. And Jesus gives him the kindest possible answer: you can't come with me now. But you will. Later.
The "now" and "afterwards" hold Peter's whole story. Right now, Peter can't follow Jesus to the cross. He'll try — he'll draw a sword, he'll follow to the courtyard, he'll attempt to stay close. But the denial is coming. The cock will crow. And Peter will discover that his self-assessed readiness was fantasy.
But afterwards. That word is the promise that outlives the failure. Peter will follow afterward. Tradition says he was crucified — upside down, by his own choice, because he didn't feel worthy to die the same way as Jesus. The man who couldn't follow now followed later. The disciple who denied followed to his own cross. The "afterwards" arrived, and Peter was ready.
The gap between "now" (not ready) and "afterwards" (ready) is where most of your spiritual growth happens. You think you're ready now. Jesus knows you're not. The failure that proves your unreadiness will feel like the end of the story. But the "afterwards" is already in Jesus' mouth. He sees your future readiness even while naming your current inability.
Peter was told he'd deny. He was also told he'd follow. Both were true. The denial didn't cancel the following; it preceded it. Your worst failure isn't the end of your story. It's the painful prerequisite for the afterwards that Jesus already sees.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Simon Peter said unto him,.... One might have expected that Peter would have taken some notice of what Christ said last,…
Thou canst not follow me now - Thou hast not faith strong enough to die for me, nor is thy work yet done; but hereafter…
In these verses we have,
I. Peter's curiosity, and the check given to that.
1. Peter's question was bold and blunt (Joh…
Lord, whither goest thou? The affectionate Apostle is absorbed by the declaration -Whither I go, ye cannot come," and he…
Cross References
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