For even to distinguished men it is not without danger to address the Teacher, as Gal 2:6 suggests. Peter deserves great admiration because he did not fear appearing slow to understand. He sought to know what he did not know, and quickly hastened to acquire wisdom.
He placed the profit gained from inquiry above misplaced shame. Thus, in this also, he became an example for those who came after him. I think it is not fitting to disregard the words of teachers, even if they are not very clear.
We must not do this from a desire to appear very perceptive and inclined to good sense. Rather, we must inquire and examine precisely what was first handed down for our benefit. Knowledge of what is useful is far better than empty cleverness.
To learn something truly is higher than seeming to know something.
Jesus answered him, "Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow afterward." He knew that it would bring His disciples heavy and unbearable grief if He said plainly that He was going up to heaven.
He knew they would grieve if He said that He was leaving them deprived of His presence on earth, though He would again be with them as God. Therefore He uses veiled speech here, slightly withholding its direct meaning.
Seeing that they do not know, He leaves them in that same state. It belongs to the wise sometimes to cover with difficult words what may cause sorrow.
So also Christ was lifting Himself up to God the Father and ordering His departure into heaven as the firstfruits of humanity. This was done for the benefit of all, for He renewed for us the way which human nature had not known before.
Yet for the holy disciples, who desired always to be with Him, separation from Christ was unbearable. This was so even though He would always be present with them by the power and operation of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore He profitably leaves blessed Peter, who did not know the meaning of Christ's words, in that same state together with the other disciples. He does so until He completes the discourse that could strengthen them.
As we shall see, He does the same afterward when He says to them, "It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you" (Jn 16:7).
Yet, as God, He hastens to foretell to the eager disciple that he will gladly follow Him and will soon be with Him, when nothing will hinder his zeal. He says, "Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow afterward."
This saying contains a twofold meaning. One meaning is very simple and easily accessible. The other is somewhat obscure and enigmatic. He says that Peter could not now follow Him who was going to God and returning to heaven.
Yet he would follow afterward, that is, when the glory and honor promised by Christ to the saints would come. Then they will ascend to the City above and reign with Him.
But besides this, the saying means something else, which I shall also state. They had not yet been clothed with power from on high (Lk 24:49). They had not yet received the Holy Spirit, who strengthens and transforms human nature toward courage.
Therefore they were unable to contend against death and resist terrors so irresistible. Otherwise it would be incredible that others should accomplish this before our Savior Christ alone, to whom it was fitting and appointed to crush the dominion of death.
For what could not fearing death mean, if not despising death as unable to cause any harm? This is why, as we think, the blessed prophets themselves trembled before the approach of death, since it had not yet been abolished through Christ's Resurrection.
Understanding this rightly, Paul said that the Word, who is from God the Father and in God, took hold of the seed of Abraham. He did this so that through the death of His holy flesh He might abolish death.
He also did this "to deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb 2:14-16). The first overthrow of death was the saving Passion.
The beginning of bold courage against death among the saints was Christ's Resurrection. Therefore, when the Life by nature had not yet abolished death and crushed the fear it casts upon our souls, the disciples were still very weak before dangers.
For this reason the Lord, with careful concealment, hints that in due time Peter will undergo crucifixion and in this will follow Him. But Peter does not yet have firmness of spirit for so great a contest.
He indicates this in the words, "Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow afterward." If Christ were not giving us an enigmatic indication of Peter's death, why would He apply the meaning of the saying to Peter alone?
The other holy Apostles also had the promise of being with Him and following Him, evidently at the resurrection, when endless life and the promised blessings would come to them. It is clear that He foretells to Peter what would later happen to him.
He indicated this more plainly in another saying: "When you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."
"This He said," it says, "signifying by what death he would glorify God" (Jn 21:18-19). For the saints, it is certainly pleasant to suffer for Christ. Yet the danger of death is not desired.
Nevertheless, it is endured when imposed by necessity. Therefore He also commands us to pray that we not enter into temptation (Mt 26 and parallels).
THEOSIS