John 13:36

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou?

I believe that in the interval after the departure of Judas and before this question the Lord's Supper was instituted. The Lord said, "Do this in remembrance of me until. come again." Peter, after the supper is eaten, not yet able to comprehend the Lord's death, asks, "Whither goest thou?" Here begins what Olshausen calls the "Most Holy Place" in John's Gospel; the last moments the Lord spent with his own before his suffering,. moment in which he speaks words full of tenderness and heavenly meaning; if possible, the most precious words of Christ himself. At first there is. conversation around the table; then they arise from it (John 14:31) and the discourse takes. higher form, culminating in the touching prayer of chapter 17th. The Savior's first words are to Peter in answer to his question.

Whither. go thou canst not follow me now.

The Lord's way was to the cross, the sepulcher, the ascension, and to heaven. Peter might follow in due time, but the Lord had other work for him now. He does not, however, answer Peter's question directly. According to tradition, Peter did follow Christ to the cross in death. He was also crucified.