FOLLOW ME

John 21:18-23
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Epilogue: Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23 So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”


Jesus did not paint Peter a pretty picture. There was no sugar coating what lay ahead for the disciples.

You will have trials and tribulations … “Follow me.”

You will suffer humiliation … “Follow me.”

Don’t worry about keeping up with the Jones. The life of others is not your focus … “Follow me.”

Death will be part of the picture, yet your death will bring God glory … “Follow me.”

This would not be considered an attractive message … an appealing picture … for modern day recruiting. But for Peter, it came from the One who rose from the dead. He followed. The record is he was eventually crucified hanging upside down.

What about us? We don’t face the same circumstances as Peter, but we have our own set of trials. In them, Jesus still says … “Follow me.”