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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 13:33 | "Little children, I will be with you a little while longer... where I go you cannot come." | Jesus' imminent departure and disciples' initial inability. |
| Jn 21:18-19 | "Truly, truly, I say to you... when you are old, you will stretch out your hands... By this He indicated by what kind of death he was to glorify God." | Prophecy of Peter's future martyrdom. |
| Mt 16:24 | "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." | The universal call to sacrificial discipleship. |
| Mk 8:34 | Similar to Mt 16:24, emphasizes taking up one's cross daily. | The daily commitment in following Jesus. |
| Lk 9:23 | Similar to Mt 16:24, highlights the daily aspect of cross-bearing. | Constant self-denial for true following. |
| Lk 14:27 | "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." | The extreme cost required for true discipleship. |
| 1 Pet 2:21 | "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." | Christian life involves suffering, following Christ's example. |
| Mt 26:31-35 | Peter boasts loyalty, yet Jesus predicts his denial. | Peter's present weakness and human failing. |
| Lk 22:31-34 | Jesus predicts Peter's denial but assures him he will return. | Peter's spiritual immaturity pre-Pentecost. |
| Jn 18:15-27 | Account of Peter's three denials. | Factual fulfillment of Peter's unreadiness "now". |
| Jn 14:2-3 | "In My Father's house are many rooms... I go to prepare a place for you." | Jesus' unique destination is to prepare a spiritual home. |
| Jn 16:5 | "But now I am going to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks, 'Where are you going?'" | Jesus emphasizes His divine mission and return to Father. |
| Jn 17:1 | "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you." | Jesus' ultimate destination is divine glorification. |
| Lk 24:26 | "Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?" | Suffering is the path to glory for Christ. |
| Heb 2:10 | "For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." | Suffering perfects and leads to salvation and glory. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses." | Empowerment needed for effective discipleship. |
| Acts 2:1-41 | Pentecost, Peter filled with Holy Spirit, preaches boldly. | Peter's transformation and enablement to follow. |
| Gal 2:20 | "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." | Spiritual death and resurrection experienced in Christian life. |
| Jn 13:1-17 | Jesus washes disciples' feet, setting example of humble service. | Foreshadows true servanthood needed to follow. |
| 2 Cor 4:10-11 | "always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." | Suffering with Christ manifests His life. |
| Phil 3:10 | "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." | Desire to partake in Christ's suffering and death. |
| Rev 12:11 | "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." | Following Christ to the point of martyrdom. |
John 13 verses
John 13 36 Meaning
In John 13:36, Simon Peter, still focused on earthly perceptions, inquires about Jesus' destination. Jesus reveals a profound spiritual truth: Peter cannot presently accompany Him on His unique path to the Father through suffering, death, and resurrection due to Peter's unreadiness and the unparalleled nature of Jesus' journey. However, Jesus gives a prophetic assurance that Peter will indeed follow Him later, signifying Peter's eventual transformation into a faithful disciple willing to fully embrace the call to self-sacrifice, even to martyrdom, after receiving the Holy Spirit.
John 13 36 Context
This verse immediately follows Jesus' pronouncements about His impending departure (Jn 13:33) and His giving the "new commandment" to love one another (Jn 13:34-35). The scene is set during the Last Supper, a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, where He instituted the new covenant, washed the disciples' feet as a lesson in humility, and revealed His betrayer. Peter's question arises from his literal understanding and personal desire to stay with Jesus, failing to grasp the spiritual depth of Jesus' "going." The "afterward" serves as a direct, prophetic contrast to Peter's current inability, pointing to a future where Peter, transformed by the Holy Spirit after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, will possess the spiritual fortitude and understanding to fully embrace Jesus' path, even unto his own martyrdom, as specifically predicted in John 21.
John 13 36 Word analysis
- Simon Peter said to Him: Highlights Peter's usual impetuous nature and prominent role among the disciples, often quick to speak and ask questions.
- 'Lord': Greek, Kyrie. A respectful form of address, but in Peter's current context, it indicates an allegiance based more on earthly loyalty and attachment than full comprehension of Jesus' divine, salvific mission.
- 'where are You going?': Greek, Pou hypageis?. Peter's question betrays a literal, geographical, or immediately practical concern, contrasting sharply with the spiritual and theological reality of Jesus' imminent departure to the Father. He is likely imagining a journey to another earthly location or a worldly conquest.
- Jesus answered him: Indicates Jesus' patient and direct instruction to Peter, correcting his misunderstanding.
- 'Where I am going': Jesus refers to His unique, divine trajectory, encompassing His redemptive suffering on the cross, His resurrection, and His ultimate ascension to the Father's glory. This journey is singular and central to His mission of salvation.
- 'you cannot follow Me now': Greek, ou dynasai akolouthēsai moi arti. "Cannot" (ou dynasai) signifies Peter's present inability, a spiritual unreadiness rooted in his lack of full understanding, the absence of the Holy Spirit's complete empowerment, and his imminent failure (denial). "Now" (arti) emphasizes the present moment, before Pentecost and before his full spiritual transformation. This "following" refers to partaking in Jesus' path of ultimate suffering leading to glorification, something only Jesus could initiate, and only later Peter could participate in unto death.
- 'but you will follow Me afterward': Greek, hysteron de akolouthēseis moi. This is a profound prophetic assurance. "Afterward" (hysteron) refers to the time after Jesus' resurrection, ascension, and particularly Pentecost, when Peter receives the Holy Spirit. This following will involve a transformation, leading him to true spiritual maturity, enduring persecution, fulfilling his ministry, and ultimately sharing in Christ's sufferings to the point of his own martyrdom (as later revealed in John 21:18-19).
John 13 36 Bonus section
- The phrase "where I am going" also implies a destination not just geographical, but theological: Jesus is returning to His Father (Jn 14:2-3; Jn 16:28), a journey rooted in His divine identity that no mere human could initially comprehend or join.
- Peter's desire to follow immediately ("I will lay down my life for you," Jn 13:37) is commendable in spirit but premature in power. It reveals his misunderstanding of what truly enables faithful discipleship—not mere human resolve, but divine empowerment through the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus' response delineates a two-stage discipleship for Peter: initial failure ("cannot follow Me now") followed by profound spiritual growth and ultimate faithfulness ("will follow Me afterward"), showcasing the process of sanctification.
John 13 36 Commentary
John 13:36 captures a poignant moment revealing Peter's spiritual immaturity and Jesus' compassionate yet prophetic foresight. Peter's earnest "where are you going?" shows a genuine desire to remain with Jesus but is clouded by an earthly perspective. He yearns to be a faithful companion, but lacks the spiritual discernment to understand Jesus' journey to the cross and resurrection as a unique, divine mission. Jesus clarifies that Peter's current spiritual state, marked by impetuosity and unreadiness for the depth of self-sacrifice required, prevents him from following the specific, redemptive path Jesus is embarking upon. This is starkly confirmed by Peter's upcoming denial. Yet, Jesus, in His grace, promises a future transformation: "you will follow Me afterward." This is a divine guarantee of Peter's eventual restoration, empowerment by the Holy Spirit (at Pentecost), and a complete embracing of discipleship, culminating in a martyr's death as a witness to Christ. This verse highlights the profound difference between a merely human loyalty and a divinely empowered commitment, while also serving as a hopeful assurance of growth and ultimate faithfulness for all believers who, despite present failings, are destined for ultimate union with Christ's mission and destiny.