Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial in John 13:31-38
Quick Summary
In John 13:31–38, Jesus speaks of his glorification through the cross, gives his disciples a new commandment to love one another, and predicts Peter’s denial. This moment blends triumph and tragedy, calling believers to embody Christlike love even amid human weakness.
Introduction
The upper room is heavy with tension. Judas has just stepped out into the night to finalize his betrayal, and the weight of what is about to unfold presses in on the disciples. Against this backdrop of impending crisis, Jesus begins to speak about glory. He insists that God is glorified in what is about to happen, even though it will look like defeat to the world. From there, Jesus turns tenderly to his disciples, calling them “little children,” and entrusts them with a new commandment: to love one another as he has loved them. This is to be their defining mark, the way the world will know they belong to him. Yet even as this lofty calling is given, Peter, the boldest of the disciples, is told that before the night is over, he will deny his Lord three times.
In this passage, John intertwines some of the Gospel’s richest themes: glory through the cross, identity through love, and the fragility of human commitment. We will look closely at each phrase, listening for what John wants his community—and us—to see about Jesus, about discipleship, and about God’s glory revealed in the midst of human weakness.
Verse by Verse Breakdown of John 13:31–38 and Commentary
“Now the Son of Man has been glorified” (John 13:31)
Jesus speaks these words just after Judas leaves. To human eyes, betrayal is a sign of failure and defeat. Yet Jesus interprets it as the very moment when glory begins. For John, the cross is not shame but revelation—the unveiling of God’s love. The Son of Man, a title evoking both humanity and Daniel’s vision of exaltation (Daniel 7:13–14), is glorified in the moment when he submits to suffering and death. Glory, in John’s Gospel, is not postponed until the resurrection; it begins here, with betrayal, suffering, and the cross (Brown, John, p. 598).
The paradox of glory through shame is central to the Gospel’s message. It challenges every human notion of triumph. To see the crucifixion as glorification requires faith—an understanding that God’s purposes invert human expectations. What looks like weakness is the ultimate display of divine power.
“And God has been glorified in him” (John 13:31)
Glory is not a one-sided act. In Jesus’ obedience, the Father’s character is revealed. The cross shows us not only the Son’s love but the Father’s will and heart. In the mutual glorification of Father and Son, we see the unity that Jesus has spoken of throughout John (John 10:30). Jesus’ mission is not independent heroism; it is the perfect expression of the Father’s desire to redeem the world (O’Day, John, p. 739).
The Father is glorified because the Son does not resist his will, but embodies it fully. The cross is not divine punishment inflicted on Jesus but divine love enacted through him.
“God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once” (John 13:32)
The glorification is immediate—“at once.” John does not separate crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. They are one seamless act of glorification (Keener, John, vol. 2, p. 921). In being lifted up on the cross, Jesus is also being lifted up to the Father. What seems like the darkest moment is simultaneously the beginning of triumph.
This teaches us something vital about God’s timing. Glory is not delayed until suffering is over. Even within suffering, God is already at work bringing about glory.
“Little children, I am with you only a little longer” (John 13:33)
The tenderness of this address is striking. The Greek word teknia conveys intimacy, much like a parent to beloved children. Jesus is preparing his disciples for absence, but he does so gently. The community he leaves behind is fragile, anxious, and prone to faltering. They need reassurance, and this affectionate phrase gives it.
At the same time, it acknowledges loss. Jesus’ physical presence will soon be gone. What holds them together in his absence will not be proximity but love.
“Where I am going, you cannot come” (John 13:33)
The disciples cannot accompany Jesus to the cross. Only he can bear the sin of the world. Yet this does not mean they are excluded forever. Later in the passage, Peter will be told he will follow afterward. For now, though, Jesus’ path is solitary. This highlights the uniqueness of his mission. The cross is not just martyrdom; it is substitutionary, redemptive, and singular (Köstenberger, John, p. 426).
It also means discipleship begins with humility—accepting that Jesus goes where we cannot, and does for us what we cannot do ourselves.
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another” (John 13:34)
This is the heartbeat of the passage. What makes the commandment new is not the call to love, which is already present in the Law (Leviticus 19:18), but the standard by which it is now measured: “as I have loved you.” Jesus defines love not by affection or reciprocity but by sacrifice. He has washed their feet (John 13:1–20), he will lay down his life for them, and that is the pattern they are to follow (Brown, John, p. 604).
This love is not abstract. It must be embodied in community. John writes to a church under pressure, fractured by divisions. The new commandment is both the foundation of their identity and the key to their witness.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples” (John 13:35)
Love is the distinguishing mark of Christian discipleship. Not doctrinal precision, not miraculous works, not moral superiority—but love. This is how the world will recognize the church. The credibility of Christian witness rises or falls on this command.
O’Day notes that the church often seeks other markers of identity, but Jesus insists that love is the sign (O’Day, John, p. 741). A loveless church may be correct in its teaching but will be unrecognizable as the body of Christ.
“Where are you going?” (John 13:36)
Peter latches onto Jesus’ earlier statement. His loyalty is sincere but misdirected. He cannot bear the thought of separation, and so he presses Jesus with questions. His focus is on following physically, not yet on embodying love.
This shows both his devotion and his misunderstanding. Discipleship will not be about proximity to Jesus’ body but about carrying his way of love into the world.
“Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward” (John 13:36)
Jesus acknowledges Peter’s longing but sets a boundary. Peter cannot follow now because Jesus’ path is unique. Yet he will follow later. Tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome, fulfilling this prophecy (John 21:18–19). In the meantime, Peter—and the church—must learn that discipleship is not about heroic declarations but faithful love.
“I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37)
Peter makes a bold claim, echoing Jesus’ own words about the good shepherd (John 10:11). But his confidence outpaces his character. He means it, but he does not yet understand the depth of his weakness. This reveals the gap between intention and reality—a gap we all know too well.
Discipleship requires not bravado but dependence on grace.
“Before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times” (John 13:38)
The prediction shatters Peter’s bravado. Before the night ends, he will deny his Lord, not once but three times. The completeness of his failure is underscored by the repetition. Yet even here, the Gospel whispers grace. John will later show Peter’s restoration on the shore of Galilee (John 21:15–19). Human failure is real, but it is not final.
Theological Significance
This passage holds together three truths at the core of the Gospel of John. First, God’s glory is revealed not apart from the cross but in it. Second, love is the defining characteristic of discipleship, measured by Jesus’ own sacrificial example. Third, even the most devoted disciples fail—but their failure does not derail God’s mission. Together, these truths reveal a faith that is both profoundly demanding and profoundly gracious.
Implications for Understanding the Gospel of John
This passage serves as a hinge between the footwashing and the Farewell Discourses. It grounds the coming chapters in love and frames the disciples’ weakness as the backdrop against which the Spirit’s coming will be necessary. Without love, the church cannot survive; without the Spirit, disciples cannot endure. John presents both love and dependence as central to following Jesus.
John 13:31–38 Meaning for Today
We live in a culture that prizes strength, success, and visibility. Yet Jesus redefines glory as self-giving love. For us, this means that faithfulness will often look like weakness in the world’s eyes—choosing humility, forgiveness, and service over power and recognition.
The commandment to love remains the central marker of Christian identity. In a divided and suspicious age, our credibility depends on whether we embody Christlike love in our communities. Churches that fight, exclude, or wound one another undercut their own witness. What convinces the world of Jesus’ reality is not the brilliance of our arguments but the depth of our love.
Peter’s story speaks to every believer who has made bold commitments only to fall short. Our discipleship is marked by failure, but not defined by it. Grace restores us, just as Jesus restored Peter. That is good news for every stumbling disciple.
FAQ
Why is the new commandment “new”?
Because it is grounded in Jesus’ own example: “as I have loved you.” The novelty is not in the idea of love itself but in the standard set by Christ’s self-giving death.
Why does Jesus predict Peter’s denial?
The prediction reveals both Jesus’ foreknowledge and Peter’s weakness. It prepares the disciples to understand that their faithfulness will falter, yet Jesus’ mission remains secure. It also sets the stage for Peter’s later restoration.
For John, the cross is the moment of glorification. God’s love and holiness are displayed most clearly not in triumphal displays of power but in Jesus’ willing sacrifice.
