Peter is like Thomas was in (11:16), he is not afraid of danger, but he responds because his pride is hurt. He sees himself as the perfect disciple who would never desert Jesus. We can understand how Peter would so strongly protest this, but it is often that the sins that seem the furthest from us are in truth the nearest.

John 11:16  Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Edersheim sees the character of Peter as being the closest among the remaining disciples to that of Judas. There is undoubtedly a comparison between the two here. If so, this shows what Judas could have become, and also what danger Peter was in that night; “and, indeed, the husks of him were cast out of the sieve in his denial of the Christ.” (Edersheim) (Luke 22:31) Both Judas and Peter sinned that night, but there is a great difference between the two. What is it?

Luke 22:31  “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

Peter thinks he is ready to die for Christ, but the exact opposite is true in two cases. First, Peter is not so ready to lay down his life when things don’t go as he plans, and second, it is Jesus who is going to lay down His life for Peter, not the other way around!

However, the disciple of Christ is indeed called to lay down his life for his Master. Part of following Jesus is dying to ourselves. In fact, dying is essential to following Him (Luke 9:23, 1 Cor 15:31, Rom 12:1).

Luke 9:23  Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

1 Corinthians 15:31  I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:1  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

We, too, are called to follow Jesus, but it doesn’t mean that we try to be good; it means that we be like Jesus. This is an impossible task if we do it out of our own strength, but we are not supposed to. Part of dying to self is dying to dependency upon our own abilities. Jesus gives us the strength, power, and direction to follow Him. Peter could not follow Jesus at that time because Christ had not yet died for him and thus could not empower him to do so.

Peter asks a very intriguing question, “Why can’t I follow you?” Part of Peter’s problem was that he didn’t know what following Jesus really meant and he had to be taught. He wasn’t yet aware of everything involved in following Jesus. He did eventually learn and years later he wrote  “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1Peter 2:21).

Peter’s statement comes from a rush of emotion. Feeling is often a substitute for doing like the example in (James 2:16). When Peter got his chance, he failed. Maclaren observes that feelings make a great servant, but a poor master. Emotions are a part of our flesh and should never be what motivates us to act. Our words and deeds should come from the direction of our spirit, which is indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit, and then the emotions may follow. We can use our emotions to fire us up, but we should never let our emotions use us.

James 2:16  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

Also involved in Peter making such rash statements was a large amount of self-confidence. Again, we cannot rely upon our own abilities to accomplish God’s work or we are certain to fail. It is only by God’s strength that we can do what He has called us to do. We must be totally dependent upon Him. (2 Cor 12:10, Gal 2:20). What Peter should have said was, “I will lay down my life for You, if You help me to do so” (Php 4:13).

2 Corinthians 12:10  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Galatians 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 4:13  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Notice how the first Christian martyr, Stephen, followed his Lord. Compare (Luke 23:46) with (Acts 7:59) and (Luke 23:34) with (Acts 7:60). Stephen was empowered by the risen Christ to follow Him in the very manner that Peter couldn’t, but would at the end of his life.

Luke 23:46  Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

compare with

Acts 7:59  While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

and

Luke 23:34  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

compare with

Acts 7:60  Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

It is reassuring to note that all God would allow Satan to do was to “sift” Peter, and the devil could not even do that without the permission of God. The Lord would use that sifting to get rid of some of the natural elements within Peter. Notice how great the difference is in the rest of his life!