Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for my sake? Truly, truly, I say to you, The cock shall not crow, till you have denied me thrice.
Wilt.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
The cock.
John 18:16,17,25-27 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter…
Matthew 26:34,69-75 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice…
Mark 14:30,66-72 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice…
Jesus replied.
The direct response from Jesus indicates His awareness of Peter's impending failure. It underscores Jesus' omniscience and His understanding of human frailty. This moment is pivotal as it sets the stage for Peter's later restoration and transformation, showing that Jesus' knowledge of our weaknesses does not preclude His love and plans for us.
Truly, truly, I tell you,
The double "truly" (or "amen, amen" in Greek) is a solemn affirmation used by Jesus to emphasize the certainty and importance of what He is about to say. This phrase is used throughout the Gospels to introduce significant truths, underscoring the reliability and authority of Jesus' words.
before the rooster crows,
The mention of the rooster crowing is a time marker, indicating the early morning hours. In the cultural and historical context, the rooster's crow was a familiar sound marking the end of the night and the beginning of a new day. This detail adds urgency and specificity to Jesus' prediction, highlighting the immediacy of Peter's denial.
you will deny Me three times.
The prediction of Peter's threefold denial is significant in its repetition, symbolizing completeness and emphasizing the gravity of Peter's forthcoming actions. This prophecy is fulfilled in the accounts of the Gospels (e.g., Matthew 26:69-75), illustrating the weakness of human resolve without divine strength. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the need for humility and reliance on God's grace. The number three often signifies completeness in biblical literature, further underscoring the totality of Peter's denial.
• Jesus picks up Peter’s confident pledge in the previous verse (John 13:37) and echoes it back to him.
• Peter’s intent is genuine, as seen when he later draws a sword in Gethsemane (John 18:10), yet zeal alone cannot sustain faith under pressure (cf. Matthew 26:33–35).
• The question exposes the gap between human resolve and divine foreknowledge: God knows the future and our frailty even when we feel strongest (Psalm 139:1–4).
• By asking, Jesus readies Peter—and us—to see that self-reliance must give way to dependence on Christ (Proverbs 3:5–6; John 15:5).
• This double “amen” marks a solemn, unquestionable truth (John 1:51; 5:24).
• Jesus’ words carry absolute authority; what He now predicts will unfold exactly as spoken (Numbers 23:19).
• The phrase also shifts the focus from Peter’s promise to Jesus’ certainty, reminding believers that Scripture’s declarations stand above human intentions (Isaiah 55:11).
• Jesus sets a precise time marker, underscoring His control over unfolding events (Mark 14:30).
• The approaching dawn mirrors the spiritual darkness that will soon surround the disciples (Luke 22:53).
• Even in this detail, Scripture shows that God’s timeline is exact, reinforcing trust in every prophetic word (2 Peter 1:19).
• The prophecy proves literal: Peter later disowns Jesus, growing more emphatic with each denial (Luke 22:54–62).
• Three failures highlight complete breakdown; yet Jesus already anticipates Peter’s restoration (Luke 22:31–32; John 21:15–17).
• The warning teaches that anyone can stumble, but grace abounds for repentance (1 John 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:12–13).
• It also reveals Christ’s unwavering love: He foresees the sin yet still heads to the cross for Peter—and for us (Romans 5:8).
John 13:38 pairs Peter’s bold claim with Jesus’ certain prophecy, contrasting human confidence with divine omniscience. Christ’s question exposes self-reliance; His “truly, truly” affirms the unfailing authority of His word; the rooster’s crow sets God’s precise timetable; and the triple denial displays both human weakness and the Savior’s ready mercy. The verse calls believers to trust not in their own resolve but in the Lord who knows, warns, forgives, and restores.
(38) wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake?--Comp. for this phrase Note on John 10:11. The pronouns are emphatic, and there is a solemn emphasis in the repetition of what St. Peter had said. He was using words of which he knew not the full meaning. He spoke of laying down his life for his Lord. He would hereafter be able to follow, because his Lord would lay down His own life for him.For the remainder of the verse, comp. Notes on Matthew 26:34; Mark 14:30; and Luke 22:34.
Verse 38. - With infinite pathos and pity Christ took up the words of Peter: Jesus answereth, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not have crowed, till thou hast denied me thrice. In Matthew 26:31-35 and Mark 11:27-31 the announcement of Peter's fate is made on the way to the garden of Gethsemane; Luke's account (Luke 22:31, etc.) may harmonize chronologically with this statement of John; but from all we know of Peter, it is probable that, after his long silence maintained during the discourse of John 14-17, his love may have been so quickened and deepened as to have once more induced the reiteration of his fidelity and his willingness to die for and with his Master, only to receive again a more explicit warning of his weakness. Towards the close of the sixteenth chapter of this Gospel, the Lord warns all his disciples of their inability to stand the tremendous test to which they would soon be exposed. If we reject the "harmony," and refuse to double the prediction, we should be strongly inclined, with Meyer and Lucke, to accept the higher credibility of John's chronology than that of Matthew or Mark. The extraordinary character of this prediction, recorded in all four Gospels, is one of the most vivid proofs of our Lord's supernatural power, and in its detail and definiteness places him among those who claim attention from their absolute knowledge, and not their vague guess of the future. Yet there was no fate in this prediction; for Peter is afterwards warned, entreated, prayed for even, by Immanuel.
θήσεις (thēseis)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.
your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.
life
ψυχήν (psychēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.
for
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.
Me?”
ἐμοῦ (emou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.
replied.
Ἀποκρίνεται (Apokrinetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.
“Truly,
ἀμὴν (amēn)
Hebrew Word
Strong's 281: Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.
truly,
ἀμὴν (amēn)
Hebrew Word
Strong's 281: Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.
I tell
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.
you,
σοι (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.
[before]
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.
[the] rooster
ἀλέκτωρ (alektōr)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 220: A cock, rooster. From aleko; a cock or male fowl.
crows,
φωνήσῃ (phōnēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5455: From phone; to emit a sound; by implication, to address in words or by name, also in imitation.
you will deny
ἀρνήσῃ (arnēsē)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 720: Perhaps from a and the middle voice of rheo; to contradict, i.e. Disavow, reject, abnegate.
Me
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.
three times.
τρίς (tris)
Adverb
Strong's 5151: Three times. Adverb from treis; three times.
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NT Gospels: John 13:38 Jesus answered him Will you lay down (Jhn Jo Jn)