31As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him.32And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will soon give glory to the Son.33Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.34So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
36Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
37“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
38Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.
There are two important items in this passage that I believe are completely connected. First Jesus commands us to love each other as he has loved us. Second and predicts Peter will deny he even knows Jesus in the midst of Jesus’ worst pain and suffering.
Peter was brash and bold and loudly claimed to be ready to die with Jesus. It wouldn’t be long before he would weep over his own fear and weakness. We are like that too often. We forget that all our strength and talent and love come from Jesus. And when we do, we set ourselves up for failure and disappointment. It is God’s way of teaching us humility.
So how is that connected the commandment to love each other and Jesus loved us? Jesus was abandoned by the brash and proud Peter in the midst of his horror, and yet after his resurrection he loved Peter and used him mightily. He loved Peter enough to let him fall and suffer in anguish, and enough to pick him up and forgive him completely. Can we love each other like that?
Lord help me to love they way you love and forgive they way you forgive because you have forgiven me so much. Change me Lord, change me. *obbs*
