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The New Command That Christ Gave The 11 Remaining Disciples Essay

Decent Essays

This morning, we considered the new command that Christ gave the 11 remaining disciples.
But they can’t focus on that.
They are bewildered because Christ is going away.
They are confused and Peter speaks up—perhaps for the whole group…
And this is where we come to our text this evening:

John 13:36-38
36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

It’s almost as if Peter didn’t hear the NEW command.
But can we blame him?
His Beloved Master has just said, I am going away and you can’t come.
I’m going and you’re staying.
Peter’s mind is occupied; and He missed the command to love one another.
Peter, probably similar to the Jews in chapter 7 and 8 who said “where is He going that we can’t find Him? Will He go among the dispersion?”
Peter was probably thinking geographically—Why can’t I follow you?

The other disciples seem to have missed it too—they are just slower to respond.
Thomas in ch. 14 will say, “Lord, where are you going and how can we know the way?”

Jesus takes up the distraction and speaks with His little children tenderly.
But He will come back to the vital command to love a few chapters later in

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