"You will follow later"

Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later." -John 13:36

I have to imagine that these words stayed with Peter the rest of his life. After Christ had risen and then trials came, afflictions, persecutions, even martyrdom; How sweet it must have been for Peter to recall these words, "you will follow later." That assurance from the Lord, whom he had seen risen from the grave and taken into Heaven, must have drove him on to preach the Word in the face of danger.

The same words apply to those today who truly belong to Jesus. Those who have trusted Him as their savior and follow Him NOW, can face trials and temptations knowing we will follow LATER also. Those who just use the name of Jesus as a lucky charm will never know the joy of this assurance. Jesus said only His sheep hear His voice; and that voice tells us, "you will follow later."