don't change the subject

John 13:36

"Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, whither goest Thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards."

Jesus commanded His disciples to “love one another,” calling it a new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” He emphasized, “By this all will know you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

Peter, misunderstanding the spiritual nature of Jesus’ journey, assumes it’s a physical destination he can follow. Jesus clarifies that Peter cannot yet accompany Him on His path of sacrificial death, but “later” refers to the future when Peter and the disciples will follow Him spiritually, through their own martyrdoms and into eternal life.

I’m not suggesting Peter is deflecting. However, Jesus’ crucial point about love is shifted to a less demanding topic. We often do this to avoid challenging or uncomfortable issues, like prioritizing “loving one another.”

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