Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” John 13:38
I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 13:36-38, where Jesus prophecies Peter's denial. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.
- What do we learn from the text about God?: V36 shares Jesus' response to Peter who seeks to understand Jesus and where He is going in reference to v33. Believers know that Jesus - at this point in John - is soon going to be arrested and then tried and crucified. Jesus shares with Peter that not only can Peter not go (not yet) with Jesus (to die on the cross), but also that Peter will die as Jesus did (see here) - but not yet as Jesus is not done with Peter, as Peter will be foundational to the new church (Matthew 16:18). In v38, we see Jesus slapping down Peter's arrogance as Jesus prophecies Peter's denial of Jesus upon Jesus' arrest.
- What do we learn from the text about people?: Also in v36, we see Peter rightly trying to understand what Jesus said in v33. This is a good and right motivation. For believers, the primary objective of daily study of God's Word is to know God, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that God can continue (sanctification) and finish (upon death and glorification) the process of making our thoughts and desires more like His - see Romans 12:2. In v37, Peter confidently asserts that he can handle what Jesus is going to experience - of course not knowing what is going to occur - even sharing how he will lay down his life for Jesus. We should be very careful with such arrogant and confident assertions of our own ability - instead we should be humble in our own abilities and be confident in Jesus' abilities.
- Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid arrogant and confident assertions of your own abilities. Claim the promise that apart from Jesus we can do nothing - John 15:5 and the corollary with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Follow the example of Jesus who humbly takes on human form and DOES lay down His life as the price for all humanity's sin - be humble and serve.
My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that laid down Your life....for me and all of humanity as the price for all of our sin....so that we could have forgiveness of sins and eternal life - the greatest gift of all time. I am not deserving of such a gift. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
