NOTES for Joh 13:36-38

Before the denial, immediately after the Last Supper, Peter thought he could serve God, that his love was enough, that he had everything needed to lay down his life for Christ, to follow Him. We too often think: "Well, I definitely have strength for this; I would never go that far," and so on. And then we act even worse, or fail to handle something even less difficult.

Peter was defeated because he did not say to Jesus: "Help me stand firm; give me the strength to follow You." He said, as we often do, that he would do it, relying on his own strength. After the denial, after repentance and forgiveness, Peter became the head of the Church; he now knew that all hope must be placed in God.

Often even the people most unsure of themselves are in fact extremely self-reliant. We do not fully realize that without God we could do nothing, including, and especially, following Him. But if we ask Him not to allow a denial, if we ask God for faithfulness, He will give it.