Why can’t Peter go with Jesus into death? At one level we are faced with the unique reality of Jesus’ death. Jesus is about to be made sin (II Cor.5:21), to bear our sins in His body on the cross (I Pet.2:24); and in so doing to bear the wrath of God against that sin (Rom.2:5, 5:9; I Thess.5:9). Only One who is fully God could offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin in this way (Heb.7:27; 9:14).
No Peter, you cannot go where Jesus is going. You do not yet have the capacity for martyrdom (13:38). And even if you did, even if tonight you did lay down your life for Jesus, it would be of no spiritual value. Even a committal so absolute as laying down your life for Jesus would prove futile and empty. Jesus is protecting you from wasting your death.
Remember the argument the disciples have been having just a few moments before? Luke 22:24, A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Peter’s empty boast is his last roll of the dice in that particular game. How much greater am I than all these other disciples – I’m ready to lay down my life for Jesus. You can’t get greater than that! Surely this proves once and for all that Peter is the greatest disciple!??
There is a spiritual tragedy lurking in the shadows of Peter’s heart. Jesus has just commanded that the disciples love one another (13:34). This is no optional extra. This is the foundation on which all other authentic discipleship must be based. Even martyrdom. ‘If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to death that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing’ (I Cor.13:3). Love, Peter, does not boast (I Cor.13:4). It does not use its devotion to prove its superiority to others.
Until Peter learns to love the Church, Jesus will not let him die a martyr’s death.
How does the shame and indignity of the cross become the means of the glorification of Jesus? What does it mean for Jesus to be glorified? How is the Father glorified through the glorification of the Son?
What difference does any of that make to us?
In Leviticus 19 we are commanded to love our neighbour. What makes this command ‘new’ (13:34)?
Why is our love for each other such a distinguishing feature that it can be considered evidence that we are Jesus’ disciples? How is the love Christians demonstrate to be so qualitatively different from the love shown by others? Doesn’t everyone love?
Why does Jesus focus the expressing of this love ‘inward’, (i.e. as something the be shown and received within the life of the Church) rather than ‘outward’ towards those who aren’t Christians?
How does that affect our outreach?
Can you share your experience of being loved as part of the Church? What does it look like (see e.g. I Cor.13:4-7)?
How is it that our self-awareness of what we are capable of in our own discipleship can be so lacking (vv.37-38).
