John 13.36-38 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered him, Where I go, you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow me afterwards. Peter said unto him, Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for your sake. Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for my sake? With absolute certainty I say unto you, The rooster shall not crow, till you have denied me three times.

compare this to:
John 21.18-19 With absolute certainty I say unto you, When you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted: but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall dress you, and carry you where you do not want. He spoke this signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said unto him, Follow me.
Galatians 2.20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
1 Peter 2.21-25 For even to this were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!###!###!###!###!###!###!###!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This passage does not only speak of Peter’s inability to die with Jesus before Jesus rose from the dead. It demonstrates that something fundamental had to change before man could truly follow God. It is significant that not only did Peter deny Jesus three times, but that every single one of Jesus’ disciples deserted him when he was taken to be killed.

These were men who in a few short months would be turning the world upside down with the radical message of the gospel. These were the most qualified men of all humanity to do exactly what their Master did. Why couldn’t they follow Jesus all the way to the cross?

Because human enthusiasm and human ability and human loyalty can only go so far. Jesus had received a divine revelation that he would walk right through death: that he would carry all of mankind’s sin to its absolute annihilation on a bloody cross, and then rise again after three days. None of Jesus’ disciples had received this revelation. They scratched their heads whenever Jesus brought it up, then they unanimously ignored it; they even told Jesus it was a bad plan. They were clinging to visions of human dominance and political conquest, calling fire down on the enemies of God and arguing with each other as to which of them was the greatest.

Look how Peter and Paul talk after seeing Jesus and him crucified, after gazing on their resurrected Lord and Savior; after being baptized and empowered in the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead! Now no longer is man relying on good intentions. Now resurrection life has swallowed up death; and those who used to live constantly in the shadow of death are completely set free and walking fearlessly exactly as Jesus walks. Now, having spoiled principalities and powers and holding the keys to death and hell, Jesus says, “Follow me.”