Love Stays

St. Charles | Scott Grossenbacher
December 28, 2025

John 13:36-38

“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.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” John 13:36-38 (ESV)

1. A QUESTION That Reveals CONFUSION

“Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” John 13:36a (ESV)

“Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” Proverbs 19:2 (ESV)

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14 (ESV)

“Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” John 13:36b (ESV)

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

2. A DEVOTION That Lacks PERSPECTIVE

“Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” John 13:37 (ESV)

’Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5 (ESV)

“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” Galatians 6:3 (ESV)

3. A PREDICTION That Shows GRACE

Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” John 13:38 (ESV)

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 (ESV)

“…… Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13:1 (ESV)

Take Home Truths:

1. Our Understanding Is Insufficient.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

2. Our Strength Is Overrated.

“Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV)

3. Our Savior’s Faithfulness Is Unmatched.

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful -for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV)