John 13

The night of v. 30 is, in His mouth, the now of glory.

Judas’s exit starts the public path to the cross, and Jesus calls that glorifying. Glory is not only later shine; it is obedient love visible.

Now: after the traitor’s leaving, glory language.

“Now”—the hour of 12:23 and 13:1 speaks. God glorified in the Son of Man includes this handing-over.

If / will / at once: the Father’s answering glory is not delayed to a remote age only.

At once includes resurrection and the name above every name, pledged to the One walking toward Friday.

God will glorify him in himself, at once.

The Son’s glorifying of God is met by God’s glorifying of the Son. At once is the Father’s speed.

Little children—tender, after glory-talk. A little while; you cannot come where I am going, the same line once said to “the Jews.”

Even His own cannot follow this hour. 14:1–3 will promise a later taking; tonight’s cannot is true.

Little children / cannot come. The restriction is for this going.

Later they will follow (v. 36). The cannot is timed to the unique hour of atonement.

New commandment: love one another, even as I have loved you. New because the measure is now His own love, heading to the basin and the cross. Wesley and Calvin both mark the example.

This is command, not mood. As I have loved you is the standard grace enables in a people who must actually love.

Calvin: new because He sets His own example. Just as I have loved you.

Leviticus already said love neighbor; the newness is the as of the crucified Lord as the community’s law.

The world’s knowledge of their discipleship hangs on if you have love. Apologetics here is a common life.

All people will know—or not. The if is the church’s visible test, sincerely laid on them.

By this all will know / if you have love.

Doctrine without this love fails the Lord’s own ID badge. The if is the appointed evidence, not a rival gospel.

Where? Cannot now, will afterward. Peter’s story is already a now and a later (21:19).

The cannot is not a never. Afterward includes restoration after the rooster. Following is still the calling.

Cannot now / will afterward: Peter’s two tenses.

The Lord writes Peter’s martyrdom into afterward while forbidding tonight’s heroics.

Why not now, plus a vow of his life. The will is loud and sincere and about to fail.

Zeal is distinct from ability. He needs the washing he almost refused and the Spirit not yet given; the vow without that is a trap.

Why can I not / I will lay down my life. Rash confidence, Calvin said.

The Shepherd will lay down His life for Peter, not first the other way. The vow inverts the gospel.

Will you?—then the rooster and three denials before dawn. Foreknowledge is mercy that will hurt.

A true disciple can deny. The prediction is meant to be remembered when he weeps, so that afterward (v. 36) still stands. Falling is not treated as impossible, nor as the last word.

Will you lay down your life for me? The question unmasks the vow.

Reformed mercy in the wound: Jesus knows the denials and still calls him little child, still promises afterward. Peter’s collapse is certain tonight; it is not the end of being His.