Gospel Reflections #704: Jesus knows the state of our faith.

John 13:36 “Simon Peter said to Jesus. Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered. Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow me later."

At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the disciples' feet and even spoke words of acceptance and encouragement to Judas in response to what he was about to do.

The disciples had no idea what Jesus was about to do, and their feelings for Him may have been at their highest.

In response to Peter's question to Jesus at such a time, Peter may have been expecting the words, "Come with me."

Jesus' disappointing words inspired Peter to say, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I would lay down my life for you." And Peter said, "I will lay down my life for you.

Peter would never have lied.

He must have really felt this way at the time.

We, too, have made snap decisions in the heat of emotion or in a moment of emotional passion.

Jesus knows the state of our faith.

He even knows our deepest motives.

He guides us against our "tendency to wait," our "tendency to seek immediate results," and our "tendency to act on emotional momentum," and He guides us to "wait" and to "realize from our failures.

What Jesus gives us is not worldly success or achievement, but faith in Him, trusting and waiting, which refines our character.

Jesus always takes care and works to turn our thoughts from the visible to the invisible.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.