“Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward … You know the way to the place where I am going.” ~ Jesus (John 13:36 & John 14:4)

 

In an interesting twist, this particular statement from Jesus was actually meant to be more literal than figurative … Please consider:

First of all, realize that Jesus had clearly stated over & over & over again the patent Truth that everyone can walk The Way in exactly the same manner he walked it (see John 14:12 – along with John 14:20-26, and his repeated admonitions to “follow me” & call for us all to “take up your cross”) …

Second, it is important to remember that Jesus was speaking here of his own crucifixion – an event that he had pre-planned and fully organized himself (see my book “Exhuming Easter” for a thorough biblical proof thereof).  As such, it was a simple statement of fact that the disciples could not join him on Golgotha on that day, for the simple reason that it was enough of a logistical nightmare for him to arrange for himself to be crucified, to be drugged unconscious while on the cross, to be removed after only a few hours, and to be taken to a nearby tomb that had never been used and that remained unguarded throughout the night thereafter …

Third, the “you will follow afterward” here was more of a hopeful statement than a prognosis – as evidenced by the fact that A) his disciples did indeed seemingly self-sacrifice thereafter (even though most did so errantly; to honor Jesus instead of to embody his selfless Way – see Matthew 22:41-45, Matthew 16:20, Mark 8:30, Mark 10:18, Luke 9:21, John 5:41, John 7:16, John 8:50-54, John 12:44 et al) … and B) his disciples never ever truly “got it” while he was with them – as evidenced by their unending desire for reassured post-mortem rewards before his crucifixion, as well as their incredulity when he reappeared to them thereafter (see Mark 8:14-21, Matthew 16:12, John 6:32-35, John 6:68, Matthew 15:2-16, Mark 8:27-33, Mark 9:33-34, Mark 16:13, John 20:9, Mark 10:24-32 et al) …

Fourth, after living with him for the three years of his ministry, it is quite true that his disciples most certainly did know The Way to the Heaven to which he was going during his final act of self-sacrificial Love (see Luke 17:20-21 + John 13:15-17 & Matthew 24:12-14 et al) — even though it also became clear that most of them never did choose to walk that same Way*.

 

(*Note that there is some evidence that Judas, Mary Magdalene, Thomas, &/or James did eventually enliven The Way of Christ.)

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt