John 13:38 (WEB)

Passage

Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times.

Nearby Context

John 13:36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.”

John 13:37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

John 13:38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "jesus", "answered", "down", "life", "most", "certainly", "tell", and "rooster". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jesus" and "answered", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "Peter said to him Lord why can...", giving immediate footing for "jesus" and "answered". In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jesus" and "answered" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.