We Are Disciples—Follow Him (21:19–25)

We Are Disciples—Follow Him (21:19–25)

Jesus has just spoken about Peter’s life and ministry. Now He speaks about Peter’s death. This revelation must have been a shock to Peter to have the Lord speak so openly about his death. Doubtless Peter was glad to be restored to fellowship and apostleship. But why mention martyrdom?

When Jesus spoke about His death the first time, Peter had opposed it (Matt. 16:21ff.). Peter had even drawn his sword in the garden, trying unsuccessfully to defend his Lord. But Peter had sworn that he would die for the Lord Jesus but he was terrible at it when it mattered. (You and I probably would have done worse!) Whoever commits himself to serve the Lord must honestly face this question of death.

When a man has made up his mind about death, then he is ready to live and to serve! The death of our Lord is a constant theme in the gospel of John. He knew His “hour” would come, and He was ready to do the will of the Father. If it is the will of God, His followers must give themselves as He gave Himself for us and be “living sacrifices” (Rom. 12:1–2) who are “ready to be offered” (2 Tim. 4:6–8).

That same morning Peter had “girded himself” and run to the shore to meet Jesus (John 21:7). One day someone else would take over Peter and kill him (cf. 2 Peter 1:13–14). Tradition says Peter was crucified upside down, as he was not worthy to die like his Master.

However, Peter's death would not be a tragedy; it would be to the glory of God! The death of Lazarus glorified God (John 11:4, 40) as did the death of Jesus (John 12:23ff.). Paul’s profound concern was that Christ be magnified in him, whether by life or by death (Phil. 1:20–21). This should also be our desire.

Our Lord’s words, “Follow me!” must have given new joy and love to Peter’s heart. Jesus literally told Peter to keep on following Him. At once Peter began to follow Jesus as he had done before his grievous denial. But Peter had looked away from the Lord Jesus for a moment, a mistake he had made at least twice before. After that first remarkable catch of fish, Peter looked away from his Lord and looked at himself. “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). When Peter was walking on the stormy sea with Jesus, he took his eyes off the Lord and looked at the wind and waves, and immediately he began to sink (Matt. 14:30). It is dangerous to look at the circumstances and not look to the Lord.

Why did Peter begin looking back from his Lord? He could hear someone approaching behind him. The apostle John was also a follower of Jesus Christ. Peter acted foolishly and asked Jesus, “What shall this man do?” In other words, “Lord, you just told me what will happen to me; now what about John?”

The Lord rebuked Peter and told him his business was to follow and not to meddle in the affairs of other believers. Be careful when you stop focusing on the Lord and start looking at other Christians! The goal and practice of every believer should be to be "looking unto Jesus” (Heb. 12:1–2). If we become preoccupied with ourselves, our circumstances, or other Christians, we disobey the Lord and may sidetrack ourselves from His will. Keep your eyes of faith on Him and on Him alone.

This does not mean neglecting others, for we have the responsibility to care for one another (Phil. 2:1–4). Rather, it means we must not let our curiosity about others lead us away from following the Lord. God has a plan for us, and He also has plans for our Christian friends and associates. It is His business how He works in their lives. Our work is to follow Him as He leads us (Rom. 14:1–13).

I remember a critical time in my ministry when I was troubled because other ministers seemed to be getting God's "blessing" in great numbers, while I appeared to be reaping a meager harvest. I can confess to envying them and wishing that God had given their gifts to me. But the Lord gently rebuked me, as if to say, “What is that to you? Come with me." It was the message I needed, and I have tried to listen to it ever since.

Jesus did not say that John would live until His return. That is a faulty interpretation that only causes confusion. Confused saints cause more trouble than lost sinners! When people misunderstand the Word of God, they only breed misunderstanding of God’s people and His plans for them.

What the Lord said about John is kind of cryptic. Jesus never said that John would live until He returned or that John would die before He did. As it was, John lived the longest of all the disciples, and he did see the Lord’s return when he saw the visions that he recorded in the book of Revelations.

Now as John is reaching the end of his book, he reaffirms the credibility of his witness. Recall that witness is a major theme in the Gospel of John. (The word occurs forty-seven times.) John himself saw these things and wrote them for us as he was guided by the Holy Spirit. He might have said a lot more, but he wrote only what the Spirit told him to write.

The book ends with Peter and John following Jesus together, and He led them right into the book of Acts! How glorious it was to receive the power of the Spirit and to bear witness to Jesus Christ! Had they not trusted, been transformed, and followed Him, they would have been successful fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, and the world would never have heard of them.

Jesus Christ is changing lives today. Anywhere He finds a believer who is willing to yield to His will, to listen to His Word and follow His way, He begins to transform that believer and accomplish remarkable things in that life. He starts doing wonderful things through that life as well.

Peter and John have been dead for centuries (apart from their books), but we are still here. We’re replacing him. What a responsibility! Such a privilege!

We can only win as we allow Him to change us.