“Dicit ei Petrus : Quare non possum te sequi modo ? animam meam pro te ponam.”
“Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.”
““Lord,” said Peter, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.””
“Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.””
“Peter saith unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee even now? I will lay down my life for thee.”
This commandment was already in the old law, where it is written, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; how then does our Saviour call it a new command? It is new, not because we simply love one another; but because we love one another, as he has loved us: not as men love one another, as being fellow creatures, but united in love, as being all the children of the Most High; that so we may be brethren to his only begotten Son, bearing to all the same love that he has borne to us. (St. Augustine, tract. 64. in Joan.) — By this shall I moreover know that you truly love me. (Bible de Vence)
6. Christ's further explication of this sign, as it represented spiritual washing.
Verses 36-38 What Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter overlooked, but spoke of that about which Christ kept them ignorant. It is common to be more eager to know about secret things, which belong to God only, than about things revealed, which belong to us and our children; to be more desirous to have our curiosity gratified, than our consciences directed; to know what is done in heaven, than what we may do to get thither. How soon discourse as to what is plain and edifying is dropped, while a doubtful dispute runs on into endless strife of words! We are apt to take it amiss to be told we cannot do this and the other, whereas, without Christ we can do nothing. Christ knows us better than we know ourselves, and has many ways of discovering those to themselves, whom he loves, and he will hide pride from them. May we endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, to love one another with a pure heart fervently, and to walk humbly with our God.