Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
37. Why cannot I follow thee now? By these words Peter declares that he was dissatisfied with Christ’s answer. He is aware that he has been warned of his own weakness, from which he concludes that it is his own fault that hinders him from following Christ immediately; but he is not at all convinced of it, for mankind are naturally puffed up with confidence in their own value.
In these verses we have, I. Peter's curiosity, and the check given to that. 1. Peter's question was bold and blunt (Joh 13:36): Lord, whither goest thou? referring to what Christ had said (Joh 13:33), Whither I go, you cannot come.
Commenting on John 13:36-38
Peter said unto him,.... Not understanding Christ's answer, and being dissatisfied with it, inquires: Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? is the place inaccessible? are the difficulties in the way to it insuperable? the roughness of the road, or the dangers of it, will not discourage me; I am ready to go through the greatest dangers and difficulties, to follow thee: yea, I will...