I wonder what you consider as your greatest achievement. Maybe like one man in our true story today, you set out to do something really worthwhile, but when the time came you didn't succeed.
But someone else in our story certainly WOULD BE ABLE to do all He set out to do; and His success is really important for you and me.
"My children," He said, "I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for Me... Where I am going, you cannot come... Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (verses 33-34.)
These "children" were not boys and girls; they were the disciples of Jesus! He called them His "children" because He knew they would be so helpless and frightened without Him. But where He was going they certainly could not go!
Jesus Christ was soon to allow God to punish Him for mankind's sins!
(Isaiah 53:4-12.) Speaking about His approaching death, He said, "Now is
the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him"! (verses 31-32.)
Jesus was about to do something wonderful for us, and He had to do it ALONE.
(1st Peter 2:24. 2nd Corinthians 5:21.) No one else could ever pay for
another's sin, and you can't help Him in any way to clear your debt for sin!
A Christian song explains it this way; "There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin. HE ONLY could unlock the gate of Heaven and let us in."
At that time Peter didn't seem to realise the awful price Jesus would have to pay by Himself in order to be the Saviour. Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You." Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for Me? I tell you the truth, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!" (verse 37-38.)
Jesus knew Peter would fail to do all he wanted to do to show his love for Jesus; but Jesus would NOT fail to finish what He set out to do for Peter, and for you and me.
Jesus told Peter and the other disciples, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later." (verse 36.) Jesus was surely looking beyond His terrible punishment, and the cross and the grave. He was thinking of the wonderful reunion when those who loved and trusted Him as their Saviour would be able to follow Him into Heaven, and enjoy its glories forever with Him! (Hebrews 12:2. John 17:20-24.)
Years later Peter wrote a letter to Christians. (We still have it in the
Holy Bible.) By then he understood the price that had been paid for sin.
"You were redeemed," he said, "with the precious blood of Christ." And he
went on, "Christ died for our sins once for all...to bring us to God." (1st Peter 1:18-21. 3:18.)
If you have not been depending on what Jesus Himself did for YOUR salvation you should put your trust in Him right now as your Saviour! Then you will be one of those who are ready to follow Him into Heaven.
Read John's Gospel chapter 13, verses 31-38.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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