November 20, 2020 -- John 13:36 -- Following Jesus

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”

John 13:36 English Standard Version

Simon Peter did not understand all that Jesus would suffer and endure as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. The full wrath of God against sinners would be poured out on Jesus. No man or woman would bear such intense suffering, agony and punishment. No one could follow Jesus into this.

Think of the weight of sin you carry: sexually impure thoughts; toying with immoral video games and the lusts for anger, sex, violence and crime they incite; allowing anger to govern your thoughts; disrespect for authority; avenging wrongs and perceived wrongs; worshiping things and desires. No doubt this list just scratches the surface as you could easily name the sins which threaten to overwhelm you personally. There are times when your past sins threaten to undo you. No wonder Simon Peter couldn’t follow Jesus to the place of punishment, the cross, the agonies of hell and the death which followed.

The glory of the cross, where Jesus was punished for all your sins, God cancelled the record of debt that stood against you with its legal demands. When Satan reminds you of your sins, remind him Jesus was already punished for that sin. You no longer carry the sentence of hell against you. That is the place where Simon Peter could not follow Jesus.

Simon Peter could, however, follow Jesus in victory. Death is now the final moment when you are released from any possibility of sinning anymore and your lives are fully, finally united with Christ in the new resurrection bodies and sin is no more! Simon Peter would follow the resurrected Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit given to all those who believe in Jesus and know He has conquered sin, the grave and hell and even death itself it being captive led. Simon Peter can follow Jesus into paths of suffering, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, because Simon Peter would then have the full assurance that sin has been thrown down, heaven has been opened and believers walk in victory and great assurance. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

What was true for Simon Peter is true for believers today, believers can now follow Jesus. Sins cannot be used to blackmail believers: Jesus paid the price for such sins. Confess them and the power of them is thrown down because of Jesus. Torture and suffering, painful and wicked and horrible as they are, will not cause a true Christian to deny the King of Kings or LORD of Lords because He is the Prize, the Goal of all true believing. Christians follow Jesus through suffering, death, the grave and rise with Him to new life in the splendors of the new heaven and the new earth. That is where Christians follow Jesus—now and until He returns in glory.

Today’s prayer is the ascription of praise found in Romans 11:33-36

Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how ^inscrutable his ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?

Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

^impossible to understand or interpret