By Timothy W. Burnett
After teaching the new commandment to love one another, Peter said, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, 'Where I go you can not follow me now; but you shall follow me afterwards.' Peter said unto him, 'Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake.' Jesus answered him, 'Will you lay down your life for my sake? Verily, verily, I tell you a rooster shall not crow until you have denied me three times'" (John 13:36-38). A similar record is found in Luke 22:31-34 where Jesus told Peter that the rooster would not crow until he denied him three times. There are a couple of possibilities to consider for interpretation. Either Jesus reminded Peter of three denials in both records, or Jesus told Peter that he would deny him another three times before another rooster would crow. If the latter is true, then Peter denied Jesus three times before a rooster crowed, and three more times before another crow occurred.
It is difficult to pinpoint the chronology of the two times Jesus addressed Peter about his denials during the meal. We do know that his statement in Luke 22:31-34 came after he addressed the issue of which disciples would be accounted as greatest. And his statement in John 13:36-38 came after he taught about love. We also know that both occurred before they left the room. The record of Peter asking Jesus where is was going seems to fit with the record in Luke 22 where Jesus told them that where he was going they could not follow.
The chronology of John 14:1-30 and Luke 22:35-39 is not clear because the two records cover completely different topics. In Luke 22:35-39 Jesus told his disciples to carry their money and weapons because he would be reckoned among the transgressors. This topic may fit with the record in John 13 where Jesus told them that in a little while he would no longer be with them. If so then he could have told them to be armed because their Lord would not be with them for a short while.
The record of John 14:1-30 is packed with exhortation and comfort from Jesus to his disciples. He told them to not be troubled in their hearts and he was going to prepare a place for them. He taught them that he was the way and the truth and the life, and that no man could come unto the Father but by him. He reminded them that if they knew him, then they would know the Father. They could know the Father through the son because the son always did the Father's will. He taught them that the words he spoke were not of himself, but the Father who dwells in him does the works. He always spoke according to his Father's will because he was meek to speak by the spirit of God that was in him.
Jesus then taught that they who believe on him, the works that he did they shall do also, and greater works than his shall they do, because he goes unto his Father. He explained that the comforter would later abide with them forever and teach them all things they need to know. The apostle Paul was taught many more things by the spirit of God (comforter), which we have available in the Epistles. Jesus taught them that the peace he was to give was not the same as the peace from the world. He reminded them to not be afraid, but to rejoice because he would go unto his Father who was greater than he was.
All of this came to pass. Jesus was raised from the dead and later ascended to heaven to be with his Father. Holy spirit was poured out in the next day of Pentecost and from that time forward it was available for anybody to believe that God raised him from the dead unto being filled with holy spirit, and to do the same works that Jesus did by God's holy spirit in them.
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