If I go . . . I will come again

If the ultimate goal in the ministry of the Lord Jesus was to bring these men to the Father, then humanly speaking His tactics seemed destined to fail. Most political leaders usually gain loyalty from their subjects by flexing their military muscles and perpetuating a sense of fear amongst the people. The Lord Jesus’ tactics were remarkable in that He would gain loyalty by first of all being lifted up on a cross, and then secondly by leaving these men alone in the world.

His going to the cross was first and foremost for the glory of God, vv. 31, 32. It was the ultimate vindication of the character of God. In this way His righteousness and mercy could be displayed without compromise. It was also the vindication of Christ’s claims that He was the Son of God. When God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand it upheld the claims of Christ.

Peter’s response was true to form. Although his willingness to follow the Lord was not in question, his ability to carry it out was. The problem was, as so often is the case with us, his devotion to the Lord was not matched by dependence on the Lord. Although the Lord warned him about his impending failure, He did not stop him. Of course, his failure wasn’t final, and the Lord graciously restored him.

Perhaps sensing the disciples’ apprehension at the recent events of Judas’ exit and Peter’s rebuke, the Lord now seeks to calm their fears by telling them why He had to go away. The first reason He gives is that He was going to prepare a place for them in the Father’s house. This promise must have been a tremendous comfort to them over the next day or so. For when they had all forsaken Him and fled, and the devil would likely have insinuated that the Lord would never want them back, they would remember that their eternal destiny was secure.

In verse 6, the Lord Jesus reminds them that the ultimate goal of salvation is not simply the Father’s house but coming to the Father Himself, and that the way to the Father was through the Son. Our primary means of getting to know the Father is through the revelation that the Son has given.