Jesus “˜sandwiched”™ His news that He would be leaving His disciples soon. He had told them of His glory, of being honored and exalted”¦then He told of His departure without them”¦then He told them to love one another.

This was wondrous news from Jesus, but Peter”™s attention is riveted to the fact that Jesus was going away. Peter and the other disciples had followed Jesus for about three years, all over Galilee and Judea, and Jesus was leaving them?

(NASB) John 13:36-38 “Simon Peter said to Him, “˜Lord, where are you going?”™ Jesus answered, “˜Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”™

37 Peter said to Him, “˜Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”™

38 Jesus answered, “˜Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.”™”

Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. How many times have you reacted in circumstances differently from what you thought you would?

Peter”™s faith was in”¦himself. Oh, he believed Jesus to be the promised Messiah, and he believed that Jesus had been sent by God. He even believed in the divinity of Jesus”¦but his faith was in himself and his own abilities.

Peter”™s faith was in himself and would be until what Jesus predicted happened. Peter had not yet learned to place all of his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus. Peter”™s later letters show that he learned this lesson well. His witness to the greatness of God is expressed through his sermons, life and letters as stated in the New Testament. (See Acts, 1 & 2 Peter)

Until we are committed to following the Lord Jesus in obedience, we will continue to place our faith and trust in ourselves.

Your personal experience of the living God actively involved in your life will be an effective witness to the faithfulness of God. Your faith, and mine, must be in God, never in ourselves.

Misplaced faith will show our weaknesses.

Faith in the Lord Jesus will prove His strength in us.