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4. Christ predicts Peter's denial (John 13:36-38)
JOHN 13:36-38
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times.
Peter was disturbed at heart and did not listen to what Jesus spoke on love. All he was aware of was that their Lord was leaving them in encircling peril in persecution and betrayal. He relied on himself, his sincerity and resolve. He assured Jesus that he would follow however costly the venture. He did not realize his impotence and limitations, convinced that he could fulfil his boastings. He was burning with zeal for Jesus, ready to fight and die for him.
C - Farewell Address in the Upper Room (John 14:1-31)
1. God is present in Christ (John 14:1–11)
JOHN 14:1-3
1 Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
The disciples were disturbed by the news that Jesus was leaving them and that they could not follow him to his destination. Jesus also predicted Peter’s denial while the latter was insisting on following him and boasting of his strong faith. Some disciples may have harbored the feeling that they might be mistaken in following Jesus who would soon depart or even die. Jesus countered their gloom and sadness with a firm command. Rely on God fully, he is the firm foundation at all times, he is unshakeable when all else shakes. He rebukes our anxieties. Fear means unbelief. Your heavenly Father does not deceive or leave you. This is the victory that overcomes the world – your faith.
Jesus demanded the same measure of faith from his followers with confidence and prayer as his Father deserves. He is one with the Father. As the Father guarantees our future, so does the Son offer his assurance. In the Son the Father was present in the world. His love deserves our trust. His truth is rock-solid.
He therefore disclosed something to his disciples of what would occur after his death and ascension. With God there is a mansion greater and finer than any owned by the wealthy in cities or the countryside. God’s palace on high resembles a vast city, wide enough to house all saints everywhere at all times. Even if you now live in a tent or hut, do not be sad. In your Father’s palace are many rooms and spacious dwellings. He has prepared a home for you clean, warm and well-lit. You are bidden to dwell near your Father for ever.
God Himself, loves believers in Christ and has prepared a place for them. When Jesus returned to heaven he surveyed these mansions and added to the preparations. But he also decided to come to us; he does not intend to be far from us. He comes back to draw his followers to himself. He loves them as a bridegroom loves his bride; so he intends to present his Church, the Bride, before his Father, not just to be introduced to his Father, but to be like Him in the celestial family. We shall ever be with him, guarded in his protection, exulting in his goodness.
JOHN 14:4-6
4 Where I go, you know, and you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
Jesus told his disciples, "You know where I go, and you know the way to God." Thomas responded, "How do we know that way, since we do not know where you are going in the near future?" In his sadness he could not see the distant goal. Fear had shaken him; he had lost his sense of direction.
Jesus reassured him gently, "I am the way to God, my love and truth is the true Law leading to the heavenlies. I am the standard for humanity, by which God will judge you. Do not measure yourself by human standards of ignorance. Keep to the path that leads to God. Come to me, and compare yourselves to me; you will find that you are nothing but corrupt sinners."
Christ does not push you from fear to fear, from despair to despair. When you reach the low points of your life he stretches his hand to save, saying, "Now I give you new truth, the old truth is behind you. I died for you, and brought about the New Covenant by grace. Your sins are forgiven; your faith has saved you. Hold on to me to abide in the reality of adoption. In me you will receive the truth by approaching God. Without me you perish."
You may say, "I hear all this, but I lack faith, power, prayer and holiness." Jesus replies, "I give you eternal life; I am life’s source. Lay hold on me in faith and you will receive the Holy Spirit. In this Spirit you will find abundant life." Whoever trusts in Christ lives forever. Do not move far from him; he is your life. Either you remain dead in your sins or alive in Christ. There is no middle way. Christ is the believer’s life.
All who are bound with Christ stand before God and see Him as a compassionate Father. No religion, philosophy, law or science will draw you near to God. Only Christ the Son of God can do this; in him the Father stands before you. Jesus is God’s perfect revelation. No one knows the Father save by him. We have the privilege of knowing God; we approach Him because Christ is love, and has made us God’s children.
JOHN 14:7
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.”
The children of this world are far from God on account of their sins. No man can know God of his own accord. No one has seen God but his only Son who is in the bosom of the Father. He tells us: If you had known me, you would know the Father too. But they did not know this. Knowledge does not mean understanding and science only, but transformation and renewal. God’s knowledge becomes incarnate in us, manifest in life. Do not be deceived, religious studies do not mean knowing God. What does is to yield to the light that illumines the gospel. You will be changed and become a light.
In the hour of betrayal Jesus surprisingly said to his disciples, "From now on you know me. I am not just the omnipotent conqueror, wise and glorious, but the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world also. In my atoning death God reveals himself as the reconciling Father, for He will not punish your sin in wrath, or destroy, but will punish me, His Son, so that you might be freed and changed to holiness, entering the fellowship as His children."
On the cross, God manifests Himself as Father. The Exalted One is not afar, but is love, mercy and redemption. God is your personal Father. You are the ones who believe in me, and you alone know the truth about God. This knowledge will transform you to become in your practical knowledge admirable in conduct and virtues.
JOHN 14:8-9
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’
When Jesus said, "You have seen the Father and know Him." Philip was surprised and nearly said, "No, we have not seen Him", but he was embarrassed by the majesty of his Lord. Instead, he uttered the words, "Lord, show us the Father and it is enough." This reply shows that he had grasped the mystery of Jesus and his power. That secret depends on his union with the Father. If he had to leave them, it was enough to show them the Father even for a moment so that they might be commissioned as he was and guarded in the might of the Omnipotent. Then they would know and see God’s place and receive authority over people, power to heal and exorcise.
But by that request, Philip confessed that he did not yet know the Father or the Son. He failed to recognize the divinity and truth. Jesus did not rebuke, but was merciful, and on his final evening announced the great truth, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." With this focal word Jesus tore the veil that lay before these disciples. No visions or dreams will disclose the truth concerning God; only the person of Jesus Christ. He was not merely an important personage, but in him we saw God Himself. Today you can have a vision of God if you see Jesus and recognize him. Thomas also heard these words and failed to grasp their import. But after the resurrection of Jesus he broke down before his Master and cried, "My Lord and my God!".
JOHN 14:10-11
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
It may be possible for a disciple to memorize the gospel and see Jesus faintly, but not realize his essence if he had no change of heart through the Spirit. Jesus drew out Philip with a question to a deeper faith in his deity, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father? The motto of my life is to glorify the Father. I am in the Father. The Father is in me bodily. The fullness of deity is present in me. I was born of the Holy Spirit, and lived among you without sin. I know Him from eternity, and this knowledge became incarnate in me. In me He reveals His fatherly goodness and His utter mercy."
"I have proof for this testimony: My authoritative words and divine works. If you find it hard to have faith in the Father’s presence in me, then listen to my words, by which the Father speaks through me. These words grant you life, power and boldness. If you do not understand my words, look at my works; God Himself, works among you with heavenly signs. He saves you through me, you that are lost. Now you will see in the hour of my crucifixion the greatest of God’s works, reconciling mankind to Himself by my death. Open your eyes, do not block your ears. You will recognize God in the Crucified. This is the true God who will not condemn you but save you."
PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, by grace I say, "My Lord and my God!" Forgive my unbelief and lack of love. Open my inner eyes to your Holy Spirit, so that I may see the Father in you, and be changed into His love, so that your knowledge may redound to life rather than death. Reveal the essence of your glory to unbelievers so that they may gain new life by faith.
QUESTION:
- What is the relationship between Christ and God the Father?