John 13:36 · Bible study
John 13:36 Commentary: Promise of Future Following
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore why Jesus told Peter he could not follow now but would later.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus assures Peter that although he cannot follow Him into death and glory now, he will do so later, in God’s appointed time.
- Key words: ἀκολουθέω (to follow as a disciple), νῦν (now), ὕστερον (afterward), the temporal contrast is the hinge of the verse.
- Main debate: Whether “follow afterwards” refers specifically to Peter’s martyrdom or more broadly to every believer’s death and entrance into heaven.
- Theological theme: God’s timing in discipleship, readiness must precede full participation in Christ’s sufferings and glory.
- Best use: Comfort for those frustrated with their own spiritual progress, and a call to trust Jesus’ pacing over our own impatience.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked. Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.”
KJV King James Version 1769
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow afterwards.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Simon Peter saith to him, `Sir, whither dost thou go away?' Jesus answered him, `Whither I go away, thou art not able now to follow me, but afterward thou shalt follow me.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Simon Peter says to him, Lord, where goest thou? Jesus answered him, Where I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me after.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Simon Peter saith to him: Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered: Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now: but thou shalt follow hereafter.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Dícele|strong="G3004, G0846" Simón Pedro: Señor, ¿ adónde vas? Respondióle|strong="G0611, G0846" Jesús: Donde yo voy, no me puedes ahora seguir; mas me seguirás después.
Disse-lhe Simão Pedro: Senhor, para onde vais? Respondeu-lhe Jesus: Para onde eu vou tu não podes me seguir agora; porém depois me seguirás.
Simon Pierre lui dit: Seigneur, où vas-tu? Jésus répondit: Tu ne peux pas maintenant me suivre où je vais, mais tu me suivras plus tard.
Spricht Simon Petrus zu ihm: HERR, wo gehst du hin? Jesus antwortete ihm: Wo ich hin gehe, kannst du mir diesmal nicht folgen; aber du wirst mir nachmals folgen.
Simon Petrus zeide tot Hem: Heere, waar gaat Gij heen? Jezus antwoordde hem: Waar Ik heenga, kunt gij Mij nu niet volgen; maar gij zult Mij namaals volgen.
Simon Pietro gli domandò: Signore, dove vai? Gesù rispose: Dove io vado, non puoi per ora seguirmi; ma mi seguirai più tardi.
Rzekł mu Szymon Piotr: Panie! dokądże idziesz? Odpowiedział mu Jezus: Dokąd ja idę, ty teraz za mną iść nie możesz, ale potem pójdziesz za mną.
Симон Петр сказал Ему: Господи! куда Ты идешь? Иисус отвечал ему: куда Я иду, ты не можешь теперь за Мною идти, а после пойдешь за Мною.
西門•彼得 問耶穌 說：「主 往哪裡 去？」耶穌 回答說：「我所去 的地方，你現在 不 能 跟我去，後來 卻 要跟 我去。」
Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus said in answer, Where I am going you may not come with me now, but you will come later.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · John 13:36
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Jesus’ reply to Peter addresses both an immediate limitation and a future promise. The present inability, “thou canst not follow me now”, stems from Peter’s lack of readiness for martyrdom. Calvin notes that Jesus “restrains Peter’s excessive desire” while softening the statement with the promise that Peter “shall follow me afterwards.” Clarke echoes this: Peter has not yet faith strong enough to die, nor is his work done. Gill adds that Christ had other work for Peter to accomplish first, namely opening the door of faith to the Gentiles. Matthew Henry sees the exchange as a check on curiosity: Peter overlooks the practical command to love and fixates on where Jesus is going. The promise that he will follow afterwards is universally understood to refer to Peter’s own death (John 21:18, 19) and his eventual entrance into glory, but commentators also apply it more broadly to every believer’s ultimate union with Christ.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus tells Peter that he cannot follow Him now but will do so later, and this promise is ultimately fulfilled in Peter's death as a follower of Christ (John 21:18-19).
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'follow' | All traditions take 'follow' literally as accompanying Jesus physically, and metaphorically as the life of discipleship culminating in death and resurrection with Him. | Some emphasize the literal martyrdom of Peter (John 21:18-19), while others read it as the general hope of all believers to follow Christ to the Father after their own death. |
| Why can't Peter follow now? | There is universal agreement that Peter is not ready, his faith is weak, his mission incomplete, and his time has not yet come. | Calvin and others stress immaturity in faith; Wesley points to misunderstanding of Christ’s kingdom; Matthew Henry sees it as a needed check on curiosity. |
| Connection to John 21 | Commentators across traditions see a clear link to John 21:18-19, where Jesus predicts Peter's death. | Some hold that John 13:36 pointed directly to Peter’s crucifixion, while others see it as a promise of any form of following, later specified in John 21. |
| Applicability to all believers | The promise of future following has been applied broadly as comfort for Christians who cannot yet fully walk in God’s plan. | Catholic interpreters often tie the verse to Peter’s unique role; Protestant and evangelical readings emphasize the lesson for every disciple: God’s timing is sovereign. |
Historical & Cultural Context
John 13:36 takes place in the upper room on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. Judas has just left, and Jesus has given his disciples a new commandment to love one another (John 13:34, 35). The atmosphere is charged with impending loss. Jesus has already told the disciples that he will be with them only a little while longer, and that where he is going they cannot come (John 13:33). Peter’s question, “Lord, where are you going?”, reveals a literal, even naive understanding. Like many first-century Jews, Peter likely envisioned a messianic kingdom on earth, perhaps assuming Jesus meant to travel to another region. Wesley suggests Peter thought Jesus would “go to some other part of the earth to erect his throne.”
Culturally, the verb ὑπάγω (“I go away”) was commonly used of departing to a different place, but in John’s Gospel it carries a dual meaning: physical departure through death and spiritual departure to the Father. Jesus’ response does not satisfy Peter’s geographical curiosity but redirects him to the reality that discipleship unfolds on God’s timetable. The Cambridge Bible notes the later tradition of the Domine, quo vadis? story, in which Peter, fleeing Rome, meets the risen Christ and asks the same question, and Christ’s reply leads Peter to return and embrace martyrdom. That tradition captures the tension of this verse: Peter wants to follow now, but his following must come at the proper time.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for John 13:36. The Greek text is stable across major manuscripts and editions. The few minor variations (such as the position of μοι or the spelling of ὑπάγεις) do not affect the meaning or interpretation of the verse.
Reception History
This verse has resonated through church history primarily as a word of comfort and correction. The Latin tradition produced the apocryphal story of Domine, quo vadis? (Lord, where are you going?), in which Peter, fleeing Rome, encounters the risen Christ and hears him say he is going to be crucified again, prompting Peter to return and face his own martyrdom. The story, transmitted in the Acts of Peter and later popularized in medieval legend, mirrors the tension of John 13:36 exactly. In the Reformation period, commentators like Calvin and Luther used the verse to teach the necessity of spiritual growth and patience in the Christian life. Modern readers frequently turn to it when they feel impatient with their own progress, finding solace in the promise that “afterwards” is sure because it depends on Christ’s faithfulness, not on our readiness.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Peter’s Urgent Question, Peter zeroes in on Jesus’ statement about going where they cannot come. He ignores the new commandment and demands an explanation. His love for Jesus is real but immature, focused on physical presence rather than spiritual purpose.
- Jesus’ Gentle Correction, Jesus does not scold but clarifies: “You cannot follow now.” It is not rejection but timing. Peter is not yet ready; his faith must be tested and strengthened through failure and restoration.
- The Certain Promise of “Afterwards”, Jesus looks beyond the cross and Peter’s denial to a future where Peter will indeed follow, even to a martyr’s death. The promise assures that God’s plan for each disciple will reach its intended goal.
Five-Point Outline
- Ignoring the Essential for the Mysterious, Peter overlooks a direct command (love one another) to pry into a hidden matter (where Jesus is going).
- Love That Wants to Be Near, Peter’s question shows genuine love, but love that has not yet been purified by suffering.
- Limitations That Are Temporary, “Now” is not forever. Jesus honors Peter’s desire but sets a timeline.
- Following Through Death, The path of the Master becomes the path of the disciple. Peter will follow Jesus to a cross-like death (John 21:18, 19).
- Hope for the Impatient, The promise sustains those who feel they are not yet where they should be in their walk with Christ.
Illustration Hooks
- A young athlete longs to play in the big game but still needs years of training. The coach says not now, but later you will be ready.
- A child asks why they cannot cross the street alone. The parent says because you are not ready, but someday you will be.
- A new employee wants to lead the project but must first learn the basics. The boss’s “not yet” is not a “never.”
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- “Why does God seem to delay my spiritual growth or calling?”
- “If I love Jesus, why can’t I follow Him more closely right now?”
- “What does it mean to follow Jesus after death? Is that a promise for everyone?”
Leading a Discussion
Jesus has just given his disciples a new commandment to love one another. But when he mentions that they cannot come where he is going, Peter’s attention shifts entirely. This exchange reveals a tension between our desire for Jesus and our readiness to follow Him. What did Jesus mean, and how does the promise of “afterwards” change how we view our present limitations?
Discussion Questions
- Why does Peter ask “Lord, where are you going?”, what does his question reveal about his priorities?
- Jesus tells group of disciples earlier in John 13:33 that where He is going they cannot come. How is His answer to Peter different from that statement?
- What does “you can’t follow me now” say about Peter’s spiritual condition at this moment? Consider the context of his denial later that night.
- Read John 21:18, 19. How does that passage help you understand what “you will follow afterwards” means?
- In what areas of life do you find yourself asking Jesus “why can’t I follow now?”, and what might His answer of “not yet” teach you about trust and timing?
- How does Jesus’ promise to Peter (future following) give hope to believers who feel weak or unready today?
- Peter’s question sidesteps the command to love. When are we tempted to focus on mysterious questions rather than obeying what is clear?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| John 13:33 | Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you. |
| John 14:2 | In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. |
| John 14:4 | You know where I go, and you know the way.” |
| John 14:5 | Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” |
| John 16:17 | Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?” |
| John 21:18 | Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” |
| John 21:19 | Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” |
| John 21:21 | Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke explains that Peter cannot follow Jesus into death at this point because his faith is not yet strong enough and his work remains unfinished. However, he will later suffer and die in defense of Christ's truth, as John 21:18 records.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin notes that Peter, despite repeated warnings about Christ's departure, remains as bewildered as if he had heard something new. Peter's trouble stems from an excessive attachment to Christ's physical presence, which he cannot bear to lose. Christ gently checks this desire and promises that Peter will follow later, though not yet.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator emphasizes that Peter becomes so fixated on Jesus statement that his master is going where Peter cannot follow that he ignores everything else. The promise of following afterward likely points to Peters own death and its manner, but his hour has not yet come since a great mission awaits him first.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note draws attention to Jesus's deliberate contrast between "now" and "afterward." Peter cannot follow his master into death at this moment, but he will be granted that privilege later, a prophecy of his own martyrdom.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Peter overlooked Christ's command to love one another because he was preoccupied with Christ's earlier words, "Whither I go ye cannot come." Peter's question revealed his unease and limited understanding. Jesus answered that Peter could not follow now but would follow later, after finishing the work appointed for him.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights Peter's limited understanding: he sees Jesus is leaving but has no grasp of what that means. The key contrast is that Jesus tells Peter he cannot follow now but will later, unlike the unbelieving Jews in John 8, who are told they cannot come at all.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the new commandment is not merely a moral rule but points to the institution of the Lord’s Supper. This feast supplies Christ’s presence to the disciples and becomes the channel that conveys the impulse and strength needed for them to love one another until they join Him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry observes that Peter overlooks Christ's practical teaching on brotherly love and instead fixates on the mystery Christ purposely left unclear. This reveals a common human fault: being more curious about hidden things that belong to God than about the plain truths that direct our conscience.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Peter believed Jesus, rejected by the Jews, would go elsewhere on earth to establish an earthly throne. Peter refused to accept Jesus' warning that he could not follow now, and when he did follow later, it was at a distance and at great cost.