John 13:36–38

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.”

Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

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.”

Belief in God means belief that the universe has a conductor. Things aren’t random; they’re orchestrated.

However, different faiths have different views of the level of orchestration. The Reformed Christian view (to which this author subscribes) is that the orchestration is total—to include even the fall of every sparrow. Other branches of Christianity believe in a lesser level of orchestration.

In any case, the events of this passage are totally orchestrated. Thus, we can interpret them as fitting together in accordance with an unfolding plan. That helps answer the key question in this passage. Where is Jesus going that Peter cannot follow?

It’s the place that Peter’s denial keeps him from going to—death.

Peter’s response even refers to death, which is a massive coincidence given that Peter obviously doesn’t know what Jesus is talking about.

Jesus’s comeback ties a bow around the whole thing. This is all about His upcoming death, and Peter cannot follow now because he’s not ready.

But that makes the last part all the more chilling— but you shall follow Me afterward.

That part of the orchestration will come true with striking precision.

Just as the crucifixion of Jesus wasn’t the defeat it looked like at first, the martyrdom of Peter and most of his associates wasn’t a defeat either. Their martyrdom served to certify the early church as something different, something based on a unique kind of agenda. They weren’t in it for the money, nor anything else people would expect.

But it also serves as a stark example of the cost of discipleship. The real disciples, the original ones, were almost all killed for their faith. That’s a difficult thing to accept.

But it’s even more difficult to accept the idea that their deaths, many by torture, were orchestrated by God. Yes, a higher purpose is easy to see. Yes, they were warned. Yes, they were willing; they even signed up for it. But how could a loving Father allow such incredible evil?

For the same reason He “allowed” the crucifixion—pain avoidance just isn’t His thing.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.