John 21:15-25 [15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." [16] He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." [17] He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. [18]Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." [19] (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me." [20] Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" [21] When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" [22] Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" [23]So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" [24] This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. [25] Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (ESV)
Recently some very high profile authors and teachers have stepped down from positions of authority and abandoned their ministries. A few years ago, well-known evangelical preacher John Piper announced that he was taking his first-ever break from ministry to reexamine his soul. "I see several species of pride," Piper told Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. "They may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry. Nevertheless, while I don't think they do, I grieve over them." Upon return, he shared that he "experienced afresh" his love for God while worshipping with church members of Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Bloomington, Minn., and that his marriage of 42 years is in "a good place now." (https://www.christianpost.com/news/john-piper-returns-to-pulpit-after-8-month-leave.html)
When we sin, it is a tactic of the devil to argue that, having sinned, we have forfeited our chance for a successful and happy Christian life and that we might as well go on sinning. Like most of the devil’s statements this is untrue. Though we sin, upon repentance, we have nevertheless not forfeited our chances for a full Christian life, nor dare we go on sinning. Instead, ("Following the Master") is that of repentance and restoration. This is the point of the story of Peter’s restoration by Jesus in John 21. Peter had failed the Lord in his hour of apparent need. He had abandoned him and had compounded his cowardice by a threefold denial that he had ever known him. Yet Jesus loved Peter, and Peter knew that he loved Jesus (Boice, J. M. (2005). The Gospel of John : An expositional commentary (Pbk. ed.) (1635–1636). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.). The true significance of the incident lies in Peter’s being confronted with his denials of Christ (Jn. 18:18), and being called to undo his denials with these three public reaffirmations of his love and loyalty to Jesus. Until that has been done Peter is not ready to be a follower of Jesus; the barrier of failure and sin has not been removed.( Milne, B. (1993). The message of John: here is your king!: with study guide (p. 317). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
The church of Jesus Christ is a fellowship of repentant, forgiven failures. And in Peter, Jesus shows us how he can transform a failure into a rock of strength for His church. Empowered by the Spirit of his beloved Lord, Peter became a humble, encouraging, suffering, and persevering disciple of Jesus. And he became a bold ambassador of the gospel of forgiveness to the most miserable failures. (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/jesus-chooses-and-uses-failures)
The hope of the Gospel is that those who have stumbled can be restored followers of Christ. Such forgiveness can be seen in the story of Peter and how Following the Master is that path of restoration. John 21:15-25 shows us that in seeing: 1) Loving Christ more than everything else (John 21:15–17), by 2) Being willing to sacrifice everything for Christ (John 21:18–19a), and by 3) Following Christ’s Leading (John 21:19b–25).
Following the Master through forgiveness and restoration is seen through:
1) Committed Christians who Love Christ More than Anything Else (John 21:15–17)
John 21:15-17 [15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." [16] He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." [17] He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. (ESV)
Peter learned the hard way what it means to love Jesus Christ. He had enthusiastically declared his unfailing devotion to Him more than once. At the Last Supper in John 13, “Simon Peter said to [Jesus], ‘Lord, where are You going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You’ ” (John 13:36–37). A short while later he boldly proclaimed, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away” (Matt. 26:33). Yet when "Following the Master" was on the line, Peter’s self-confessed love failed and he openly denied three times that he even knew Jesus. His vaunted courage proved to be nothing but empty talk when facing a threatening situation.
Please turn to back to John 14
Peter’s failure highlights the biblical truth that obedience is the essential evidence of genuine love. If we love God, it will be seen by more than just words. The reason why that is possible, is because of the resources that God promises from the Holy Spirit:
John 14:15-21 [15]"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, [17] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. [18]"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [19] Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. [20] In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. [21] Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (ESV) (cf. 15:10).
Jesus knew that if Peter was to play the crucial role in the early church that He had chosen him for, he would need to be restored. Peter needed to understand that although he had forsaken Christ, Christ had not forsaken him (cf. Rom. 8:31–39). The Lord had evidently already appeared to Peter privately (Luke 24:34; cf. 1 Cor. 15:5), but Scripture does not record any details of that meeting. Whatever may have happened in Peter’s personal encounter with the risen Lord, since his denials were public knowledge, he needed to be publicly restored. The other disciples needed to hear Peter’s reaffirmation of his love for Christ and Christ’s recommissioning of him, so they would be willing to loyally support his leadership. The issue of denying the Lord became a significant problem in the early church during times of persecution, and processes of reinstatement were debated. Hardliners were often not willing to accept those who denied their Lord while others may have tended to accept such deviants too easily. This pericope of the questioning of Peter must have served as a model of a median position willing to reestablish deviants but not without testing their commitment (Borchert, G. L. (2003). Vol. 25B: John 12-21 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (334). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
• Likewise, this text provides us with helpful advice in dealing with those who are unfaithful and what is necessary for the to reintegrate them back into useful ministry.
John 21:15 begins that as soon as they had finished breakfast (cf. 21:12–13), Jesus initiated the restoration by confronting Peter. That He addressed him as “Simon, son of John” suggests that what followed was a rebuke. Jesus had given Simon the nickname “Peter” (John 1:42), but sometimes referred to him as “Simon” when Peter did something that needed rebuke or correction (e.g., Matt. 17:25; Mark 14:37; Luke 22:31). It was as if our Lord called him by his former name when he was acting like his former self.
• There are times when People look with nostalgia back to a previous time. We tend to romanticize an overtly positive time but such nostalgia fails to consider the childlessness and achievements that have been made since.
The Lord’s pointed question, “Do you love Me more than these (i.e., the boat, nets, and other fishing paraphernalia)?” went right to the heart of the issue. Peter had explicitly professed a devotion to Jesus that exceeded that of the others in the apostolic band (Matt. 26:33; Mark 14:29; cf. John 13:37; 15:12–13). It may be that Jesus is asking Peter whether, in the light of what has since happened, he still thinks that his love for Christ exceeds that of all the others. Taken this way, the question challenges Peter as to his whole future. Was this to be spent in the pursuit of fishing and the like? Or did he love Christ more than that? (Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel According to John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (768). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
Peter, impatient at Jesus’ delay in meeting the disciples and beleaguered by his own failures, had impulsively decided to return to being a fisherman (Jn. 21:3). That he was sure he could do well—or so he had thought. But Jesus confronted Peter and called him to follow Him and be the fisher of men he was first called to be (Matt. 4:19). “No servant can serve [be a slave to] two masters,” He had previously told them in Luke 16:13, “for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth”. Jesus challenged Peter to permanently abandon his former life and be exclusively devoted to following Him, based on his love. Paradoxically, one who loves Jesus supremely will love those entrusted into his charge more, not less. (Köstenberger, A. J. (2004). John (p. 596). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.)
• If someone were to examine how you use your time what would they conclude? Is Christianity just an add on to your previous lifestyle, or is everything you do, spend and say reflective of a new reality of being exclusively a Christian?
The threefold questioning of Peter by Jesus concerning his love brought the disciple from a response of something like “of course!” concerning the first question, to a sense of grief with the third one. But Jesus would not let him go with offering an easy response. Instead, Jesus probed him until he opened the wounded heart of this would-be follower. Off-the-cuff replies and well-meaning superficial responses to the risen Lord will not work in the call of Jesus to the life of discipleship. Jesus forced Peter to learn the hard lesson of a changed life. Everyone who follows Jesus must learn what real believing and loving Jesus means (Borchert, G. L. (2003). Vol. 25B: John 12-21 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (334–335). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers).
Peter replied to Jesus' challenge, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” There is an interesting wordplay in the Greek text. The word Jesus used for love is agapao, the highest love of the will, love that implies total commitment (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4–8). Peter, painfully aware of his disobedience and failure, most likely felt too guilty to claim that type of love. The brash pronouncements were a thing of the past; broken and humbled and fully aware that his action precluded him from a believable claim to the highest love, Peter answered by using the word phileo, a less lofty term that signifies affection. He also appealed to Jesus’ omniscience, reminding Him, “You know that I love You.”. With becoming modesty and pleasing reserve Peter, humbled by the memory of his fall, refuses to use the higher term for love, the verb which Jesus had used. For the love of intelligence and purpose, the love of wholehearted devotion, about which Jesus was asking, Peter substitutes the more subjective affection. At the same time, instead of boasting, as if he were thoroughly acquainted with the state of his own heart, he casts himself upon (and appeals to) the penetrating knowledge of his Lord. Attachment to Jesus is an absolute prerequisite for rendering service in his kingdom. And in tender mercy Jesus is willing to bestow this great privilege upon one who lays claim to nothing better than the humbler (though still very precious) type of love (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 1-2: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to John. New Testament Commentary (Jn 21:15). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).
Accepting Peter’s humble acknowledgement that his love was less than he had claimed and Christ deserved, Jesus still recommissioned him, graciously saying to him, “Feed/tend My lambs.” Feed/tend translates a form of the verb bosko, a term used of herdsmen pasturing and feeding their livestock. Peter’s love for his Lord is to be made manifest in his care for the Lord’s flock (cf. Jn. 10). The present tense of the verb denotes continuous action. In keeping with the metaphor Jesus introduced in Jn. 10:7–16 (cf. Pss. 95:7; 100:3; Ezek. 34:31), He described believers as His lambs, emphasizing not only their immaturity, vulnerability, and need, but also that they are His (cf. Matt. 18:5–10). (Beasley-Murray, G. R. (2002). Vol. 36: Word Biblical Commentary : John. Word Biblical Commentary (405). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.).
Continuing to reinforce His point on the supremacy of love as the motive to faithfulness, Jesus said to Peter again in verse 16, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Once again He used the verb agapao but the second question differs from the first. It probes deeper and is more painful. It is as if Jesus were saying, “Simon, by your silence with reference to these others you have indicated that you no longer believe that you love me more than they do. But now, dropping all comparison, do you really love me?” He is again asking whether Simon loves him with thorough-going devotion and with his entire person (not only the emotions but also the mind and the will). In his reply, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You,” Peter again used the verb phileo. Peter gives the same answer as before. He still does not dare to affirm that he possesses the higher kind of love. (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 1-2: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to John. New Testament Commentary (Jn 21:16). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).
The Lord then charged him, “Tend/shepherd My sheep.” It is significant to note the entire range of the recipients of the feeding, from lambs to sheep. We can understand in verse 15, by the “lambs,” young and tender disciples, whether in age or Christian standing (Is 40:11; 1Jn 2:12, 13), and by the “sheep” in verse 16, the more mature (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments (Jn 21:15). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.). Jesus chose a different term here than the one in verse 15. This word, a form of the verb poimaino, is likely a synonym for the previous verb, both of which are suitable to express the full scope of responsibility that pastoral oversight entails (cf. Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). The command (for Peter) to “tend/shepherd/take care of” clearly took on broader meaning than the command to “feed.” Not only was Peter to feed the flock, but he was (also) to watch over the flock, to be a shepherd to it. Besides feeding, that implied guiding, protecting, comforting; and it has become the directive not just for Peter but for all pastors (that is, “shepherds”) and teachers of the flock since then (Baumler, G. P. (1997). John. The People's Bible (272). Milwaukee, Wis.: Northwestern Publishing House.)
As Paul pointed out in Acts 20:28 and as Peter himself exhorted in 1 Peter 5:2. Paul instructed Timothy to pastor Christ's flock and his primary responsibility was to:
2 Timothy 4:2 [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (ESV)
But Jesus still was not through with Peter, so in verse 17, He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” The reason for Peter’s grief was a change in the Lord’s vocabulary. Unlike His two previous questions, this third time Jesus used Peter’s word for love, phileo. He called into question even the less than total devotion Peter thought he was safe in claiming. This challenge to Peter demanded a total renewal of his loyalty and reaffirmed his responsibilities.( Tenney, M. C. (1981). John. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 202). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
The implication that his life did not support even that level of love broke Peter’s heart. All he could do was appeal even more strongly to Jesus’ omniscience, saying to Him, “Lord, You know all things (cf. 2:24–25; 16:30); You know that I love You.” For the third time Jesus accepted the apostle’s recognized failure and imperfection (cf. Isa. 6:1–8) and graciously charged Peter to care for His flock, saying to him, “Feed/tend My sheep.” Peter’s restoration was thus complete. As he had disowned Jesus three times, so Jesus requires this elementary yet profound confession three times (Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (678). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.).
Poem: 3218 Hazel Hartwell Simon wrote in her poem: "Love Makes Obedience" these words: “Love makes obedience a thing of joy! To do the will of one we like to please. Is never hardship, though it tax our strength; Each privilege of service love will seize! Love makes us loyal, glad to do or go, And eager to defend a name or cause; Love takes the drudgery from common work, And asks no rich reward or great applause. Love gives us satisfaction in our task, And wealth in learning lessons of the heart; Love sheds a light of glory on our toil And makes us humbly glad to have a part. Love makes us choose to do the will of God, To run His errands and proclaim His truth; It gives our hearts an eager, lilting song; Our feet are shod with tireless wings of youth! (Hazel Hartwell Simon as recorded by Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.)
Following the Master through forgiveness and restoration is seen through:
2) Committed Christians who Are Willing to Sacrifice Everything for Christ (John 21:18–19a)
John 21:18-19a [18]Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." [19] (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) (And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me.") (ESV)
Jesus had predicted Peter’s denials after Peter had said he was willing to die with him (Jn. 13:37–38). Jesus told him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later” (Jn. 13:36). Here now is the call to follow. After Peter professes his obedient love, Jesus spells out the cost of that love. He contrasts Peter’s youth, his life up to this point, with what is coming (Whitacre, R. A. (1999). Vol. 4: John. The IVP New Testament commentary series (497). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.).
Jesus’ prophecy of Peter’s martyrdom underscores the truth that commitment to Him may require paying the ultimate price.:
Matthew 10:38-39 [38] And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [39] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (ESV) (cf. 16:24–26; Rom. 14:8; Phil. 1:21).
As it does throughout John’s gospel, the solemn phrase truly, truly introduces a significant truth (1:51; 3:3, 5, 11; 5:19, 24, 25; 6:26, 32, 47, 53; 8:34, 51, 58; 10:1, 7; 12:24; 13:16, 20, 21, 38; 14:12; 16:20, 23). When he was young, Peter used to dress/gird himself and walk wherever he wanted/wished; in other words, he was in control of his actions. This enigmatic statement contrasts Peter’s experience during his youth, when he dressed himself and went wherever he pleased, with what was to happen to him when he grew old. His independence would be stripped away. (There would come a time, Jesus warned, when others would seize Peter, bind him, and lead him away to be executed). He would be forced to stretch out his hands and others would ‘dress/gird’ him and carry/bring/lead him to a place he would not want/wish to go. To stretch out your hands is an allusion to the way those to be crucified were forced to stretch out their arms and bear the cross beam to the place of execution (cf. Barnabas 12:4; Justin, I Apology, 35)
John’s footnote in verse 19, This he said, to show/signifying by what kind of death he was to/would glorify God, makes that clear. Peter is known to have suffered a violent death (1 Clement 5:4) by crucifixion (Tertullian, Scorpiace xv.3) (Kruse, C. G. (2003). Vol. 4: John: An introduction and commentary. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (387). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.).. Peter was crucified, but requested to be crucified upside down, because he felt unworthy to be crucified like his Lord (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History III.1).
Please turn to 1 Peter 4
Peter spent the last three decades of his life serving the Lord and anticipating his martyrdom. Yet he faced that prospect with confidence, comforted by the knowledge that he would not deny the Lord again, but instead would glorify Him in his death. As he explains in 1 Peter 4:
1 Peter 4:14-16 [14] If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. [16] Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. (ESV)
Following Jesus Christ is the sine qua non of the Christian life. In John 12:26 Jesus put it simply: “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me.” It is the mark of His sheep that they follow Him (John 10:27; cf. 8:12), no matter what the cost (Matt. 16:24; 19:27; Luke 5:11, 27–28; 9:23–25; 18:28). To follow Jesus means not only to be willing to sacrifice everything in submission to His will, but also to obey His commands (Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46) and to imitate Him (1 Thess. 1:6; 1 John 2:6; cf. 1 Cor. 11:1). “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
Illustration: In Charles Dicken’s Tale of Two Cities, Charles Darney, a young Frenchman has been condemned to die by the guillotine. In the story, Sidney Carton is a self-indulgent English lawyer who has wasted great gifts and quenched high possibilities in uncontrolled living. When he learns the plight of his friend, he determines to save him by laying down his own life—not for the love he has for the man, but for the sake of the man’s wife and child. To that end Carton gains admission to the dungeon the night before the execution, changes garments with the condemned man, and the next day is led out and put to death as Charles Darney. As we see him ascending the steps to the place of death, his hands bound behind his back, taking his last look at the world, these words of our Saviour come to mind: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). (Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.)
Finally, Following the Master through forgiveness and restoration is seen through:
3) Committed Christians who Focus on Following Christ’s Leading (John 21:19b–25)
John 21:19b-25 [19] (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me." [20] Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" [21] When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" [22] Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" [23]So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" [24] This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. [25] Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (ESV)
John 21:19b continues, that after saying this on His prophecy of Peter’s death, Jesus said to him, “Follow Me!” There is possibly significance in the use of the present tense; “keep on following” will be the force of it. Peter had followed Christ, but not continuously in the past. For the future he was commanded to follow steadfastly in the ways of the Lord (Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel According to John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (773). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).
• Our commitment to "Follow the Master" should be reflective of a present continuance of faithfulness.
Apparently Jesus and Peter walked away from the group to have their conversation. Now Peter looked around and saw John was following them. Peter and John were close friends and had, with James, shared a close-knit leadership role among the disciples So Peter asked Jesus if John too would glorify God in martyrdom: “Lord, what about him?” (Baumler, G. P. (1997). John. The People's Bible (274). Milwaukee, Wis.: Northwestern Publishing House.).
In verse 20 it says that [20]Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" Throughout his gospel, John never names himself, preferring to refer to himself in other ways. As John 13:23 indicates, he was one of the inner circle of Jesus’ followers. What Peter had been twice urged to do John was already doing. “His obedience is assured; it was Peter’s love that had been shown to be uncertain (Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel According to John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (774). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
• The first place to start in "Following the Master" is to ensure our walk with Him before considering another's.
Evidently Christ’s prediction of Peter’s martyrdom prompted concern about what would happen to his intimate friend, John. In verse 21 [21]When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Having focused on the beloved disciple, Peter asked his gnawing question: “And what about this one?” “What about someone else?” is a very human question. We tend to focus on comparisons. That is usually the way we try to understand whether we are okay. But that is not the way it works with God. God is concerned about us personally...(and) our own individual responsibilities before God. Our concern for others can actually sidetrack us from facing God’s personal demands on us. That was the problem with Peter in this verse, and Jesus was prepared to confront him with this sidetracking of his personal calling (Borchert, G. L. (2003). Vol. 25B: John 12-21 (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (339). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
In verse 22, Jesus’ abrupt and censuring reply, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” was not an answer, but it was a rebuke that made it clear to Peter that what was to happen to John was none of his business. If John lived until the second coming, it had no bearing on Peter's responsibility. Reiterating His command from verse 19, Jesus said emphatically, “You follow Me!” Peter’s attention was not to be on anyone else, but on his own devotion and duty to Jesus Christ. Some disciples can be easily distracted by unnecessary questions about God’s secret will; as a result they neglect God’s plainly revealed will. God’s plans for Christians vary and His reasons are not often made known. Peter was to commit himself to God’s plain commands to him.( Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 345–346). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
• The Lord has a unique plan for each of His followers. The only reason we should be concerned with what God is doing for others, is in order to pray for them, or fulfill the other "one another's" of scripture, but it is not to wonder why we aren't doing the exact same thing.
Illustration: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the twentieth-century Christian martyr, understood this well. In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer said: “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death …. Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship. The disciple is not above his master”. Bonhoeffer followed the call to the end. He was executed by the Nazis in Flossenburg prison, April 9, 1945, just hours before its liberation by the Allied forces. He did what he could to be a pastor for believers, even while in prison. He followed Jesus even at the cost of his own life.( Bryant, B. H., & Krause, M. S. (1998). John (Jn 21:20–22). Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.)
John finished the inspired gospel by answering a few final questions that bring closure to his account. The Lord’s hypothetical response to Peter caused a rumor to go out so, as it says in verse 23, the saying spread abroad among the brothers/brethren that this disciple was not to die. John was quick to debunk that rumor, lest his death cause some to believe the Lord made a false prediction: Yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will/I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
John reminded his readers in verse 24, that he is the disciple who is bearing witness/testifying about these things and who has written these things, and we (either the apostles, or more likely an editorial device referring only to John) know that his testimony is true. John was an eyewitness to the events recorded in his gospel, and his testimony concerning them is true (cf. John 1–11, 5–6). But while what he wrote was true, it was by no means exhaustive.
Please turn back one chapter to John 20
Now there are, as he concludes in verse 25, also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John had selectively chosen his material in keeping with his stated purpose of presenting Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of God (Jn. 20:30–31). His statement that Jesus did more works than the world’s books could hold is evidence that even in the four Gospels there is given only a very limited and selective record of events. John ends with an expression of human inadequacy. We can never know or appreciate Christ enough. The splendor of Christ surpasses and eludes our senses and abilities or capacities. The Gospel of John ends with Christ’s triumphs, his power, and his grace.( Bryant, B. H., & Krause, M. S. (1998). John (Jn 21:25). Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.)
This is how he explains it in John 20, starting at verse 30:
John 20:30–31 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (ESV)
• John’s purpose statement and conclusion of the Gospel proper rehearse the major themes of the Gospel: Jesus’ identity as the Christ and Son of God (cf.1:41, 34), his selected messianic “signs” (cf. 1:19–12:50; 2:11), the importance of believing in Jesus, and the gift of eternal life (cf. 1:12; 3:16; 17:3). (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2071). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
Poem: Pencilled on the wall of a narrow room of an asylum were these familiar words: “Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky.” (Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 1-2: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the Gospel According to John. New Testament Commentary (Jn 21:25). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)
Jesus had challenged Peter to love Him above all else. Faced with the prospect of sacrificing everything for Christ, from here on Peter did not back down. He learned the lesson that following Jesus was to be the singularly supreme objective of his love. Peter and his fellow apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, turned the world upside down through their fearless witness to Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 17:6) and in almost every case died as martyrs for the love of Christ and the truth of the gospel.
(Format Note: Outline & some base commentary from MacArthur, J. (2008). MacArthur NT Commentary - John 12-21 (403–406). Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers.)
