John 13:36 kjv
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.
John 13:36 nkjv
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."
John 13:36 niv
Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
John 13:36 esv
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 nlt
Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" And Jesus replied, "You can't go with me now, but you will follow me later."
John 13 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 13:23 | …one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining … | Close relationship with Jesus |
| John 19:26 | When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple standing by whom He loved... | Jesus entrusts Mary to John |
| John 20:2 | So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved... | John's testimony of the resurrection |
| John 21:7 | Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" | John's recognition of the resurrected Jesus |
| John 21:20-23 | Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following…Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” | Jesus clarifies John's destiny vs. Peter's |
| Acts 12:1-2 | …attack certain members of the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword. | James' martyrdom |
| Revelation 1:9 | I, John, both your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and perseverance of Jesus Christ, was on the island called Patmos… | John's exile and revelation |
| Matthew 19:27 | Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Behold, we have left all and followed You. What shall we have?” | Peter's focus on rewards |
| Matthew 16:28 | Most assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. | Jesus' prediction of some disciples witnessing His kingdom |
| 1 Corinthians 15:23 | But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming, | Order of resurrection |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 | For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout…And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds… | The Lord's second coming |
| 2 Peter 1:14 | knowing that shortly I must put off my earthly dwelling, just as our Lord Jesus Christ also has shown me. | Peter's awareness of his impending death |
| Philippians 2:16 | …holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I will not have run in vain or labored in vain. | Paul's anticipation of Christ's return |
| 2 Timothy 4:7-8 | I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness… | Paul's assurance of reward |
| John 14:2-3 | In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself… | Jesus promises to return for His followers |
| John 16:32 | But the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you shall be scattered, each to his own, and leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. | Jesus' foreknowledge of His disciples' abandonment |
| John 21:24 | This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. | Confirmation of John's authorship and testimony |
| Acts 1:8 | But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you… | The promise of the Holy Spirit |
| 1 John 3:2 | Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. | Future transformation of believers |
| Romans 8:17 | …if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. | Joint heirs with Christ |
John 13 verses
John 13 36 Meaning
The verse records Peter asking Jesus about the destiny of the disciple whom Jesus loved, questioning if he would also face a similar fate to Jesus.
John 13 36 Context
This verse appears at the very end of the Gospel of John, specifically in chapter 21, which is often seen as an epilogue. It follows a significant post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to His disciples by the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus restores Peter. Peter, having been reinstated by Jesus after his denial, is focused on the disciples' respective destinies. The immediate context is Jesus' command to Peter to "follow Me." Peter, ever impetuous, then turns to see the disciple whom Jesus loved (traditionally identified as John) and asks about his fate, indicating Peter's lingering concern about hierarchy and understanding Jesus' plan for each of them.
John 13 36 Word Analysis
- Simon Peter: Aramaic "Shimon," meaning "He has heard," and Greek "Petros," meaning "stone" or "rock." Represents the leader of the apostles, though flawed.
- said: Greek "legō" (λέγω), a common verb for speaking.
- to: Greek "pros" (πρός), indicating direction toward someone.
- Jesus: Greek "Iēsous" (Ἰησοῦς), from Hebrew "Yeshua" (יהושע), meaning "Yahweh saves."
- Lord: Greek "Kyrios" (Κύριος), signifying supreme authority and divinity.
- this: Greek "houtos" (οὗτος), pointing to the individual present.
- one: Greek "houtos" (οὗτος), referring to the disciple John.
- will: Greek "mellō" (μέλλω), used to express future intention or outcome.
- be: Greek "eimi" (εἰμί), the verb "to be."
- in Greek "en" (ἐν), denoting presence or inclusion.
- this Greek "houtos" (οὗτος), pointing to the specific context or way.
- way Greek "tropos" (τρόπος), meaning manner, way, or circumstance.
- Lord Greek "Kyrios" (Κύριος), repeated emphasis on Jesus' authority over destinies.
- what Greek "tis" (τίς), inquiring about the nature or outcome.
- will Greek "mellō" (μέλλω), futurity.
- this Greek "houtos" (οὗτος), referring to the disciple John's fate.
- be Greek "ginomai" (γίνομαι), meaning "to become" or "to happen."
- To you? Greek "sou" (σοῦ), a personal pronoun in the genitive case, implying Peter's personal concern and ownership of the question.
Words-Group By Words-Group Analysis
- Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following… This sets the immediate scene of Peter's gaze shifting to John. It highlights Peter’s post-resurrection preoccupation with what Jesus’ plan is for his fellow disciples, especially the one Jesus showed the greatest affection for.
- …said to Jesus, “Lord, what will this be to you?” This phrase reveals Peter’s interpretation of Jesus' earlier statement. He likely understood "follow Me" not just as an imperative but as a unique path or destiny Jesus would grant each disciple. His question seeks to clarify if John's destiny will be the same kind of 'following' or 'dying' as he inferred for himself and others. The Greek can be interpreted as "What will happen to him in this way?" or "What is his portion in this path?"
John 13 36 Bonus Section
The original wording of Jesus' response in verse 22, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?" indicates that John was the only surviving apostle at that time who might see the Second Coming in his lifetime. While James had already been martyred (Acts 12:2), and other apostles would eventually die as martyrs, John lived to old age, and his gospel and epistles provide unique insights into Christ's teachings and humanity's response to Him. His long life allowed him to be a living testament and the last eyewitness of Jesus' earthly ministry, culminating in the Book of Revelation. The disciples' understanding of "until I come" was often tied to the Parousia (Christ’s Second Coming), but here Jesus uses it in a way that might also signify His coming in judgment upon Jerusalem or His continued presence and guidance through the Holy Spirit. The eventual fulfillment saw John witness both the destruction of Jerusalem and later the vision of Christ's return on Patmos.
John 13 36 Commentary
Peter, ever the spokesman for the disciples, turns from Jesus to the disciple John after Jesus' command for him to "follow Me." Having just been restored to his ministry, Peter is keen to understand the implications of following Jesus, especially concerning the distinctive paths and ultimate fates of the apostles. His question reveals a remaining tendency to compare himself and others, seeking assurance or clarity on who would be closest to Jesus or endure similar trials. Jesus’ answer redirects Peter’s focus back to his personal commission: "You follow Me." This implies that understanding another's path is secondary to fulfilling one’s own calling. It's a correction against an insatiable curiosity about the unknown futures of others and a call to personal discipleship. The disciples generally expected Christ's imminent return in glory, which they believed would involve shared suffering and reward among those who remained faithful. Jesus clarifies that while some might "remain" to witness His return in a particular way (as he hinted earlier regarding some alive at His coming), this is not Peter's concern, but God’s plan.