Gospel of John - "Follow Me"

               

“Follow Me”

John 21:18-25

Death, it is not the final destination. Jesus has already proven that death was now defeated, but that we will all  die to the earthly tent of this body, but to arise one day in glory with a new body. Peter was now told by Jesus what manner he would die. Let's look at the first portion of the text. “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’”

Again Jesus tells Peter the absolute truth, “Very truly I tell you.” If there is anything Peter can trust, it is Jesus telling the truth, for he is the truth. Peter, having been restored and commissioned by Jesus, now hears Jesus tell him about Peter’s future. Up to now, none of the disciples had asked about the glorified body of Jesus or about Jesus’ next appearance or disappearance. They were learning to take one day at a time. So Jesus reveals to Peter that he would die by crucifixion, “...when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 

All of this is to bring glory to God the Father. Peter has always been adamant about his loyalty in the past, and now that the denials are forgiven, he again will desire to be faithful and loyal to God to the last breath, in order to bring glory to God the Father and his Lord Jesus the Christ. It was important for Peter to know that he would in the end of his life bring glory to the Father. He needed that assurance to strengthen his faith in leading the church.

Again Jesus gives the command to Peter, “Follow me.” This time Peter knows that he will follow till the end, and not just him, but all those who will trust Jesus even to death.

Application - I’m not sure I would like to know the manner of my death, but to know that my life will be a light in the world and it will bring glory to God the Father, this I’m very agreeable too. Jesus told us to be faithful in our lives and service to God, “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” (Matthew 25:21) “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

Again, we are called to follow in the way of Christ Jesus, bearing our cross, denying ourselves “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Matt. 16:24), and be committed wholly to Christ “And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” (1 Kings 8:16) and yielded to the Holy Spirit who indwells us and to whom our bodies are his temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

For all of this: faithfulness, loyalty, commitment, and submission is embraced and encapsulated in our love for God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3)

Now, Peter has a question for Jesus, after looking at John tagging along behind them. Let’s look at the next portion of the text, “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

Peter and John had been friends and companions in the fishing industries probably since they were children. Peter being the eldest of the two, would have spent much time together. John, who had been a disciple of John the Baptist, had seen Jesus first at his baptism and his adoration of Jesus was no secret to the disciples, for they all loved Jesus. John had been in the inner circle with Peter on occasions to see the miraculous or to pray with Jesus in the solidary times at night. So, seeing John following behind was not that unusual. Peter again was inquisitive of the future, and asked about John’s death as well. To Peter’s surprise, Jesus gives a mild reprimand to his question, “Lord, what about him?”  “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” 

Jesus again, reiterates the call, “You must follow me.” Peter was to learn that each person would have to follow God’s call and direction, they would be led on different paths in taking the gospel to the world, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20). 

Jesus’ reprimand was to help Peter to understand Jesus’ authority was supreme. There must have been others who were listening as well, for a rumor began amongst them insinuating Jesus said that John wouldn’t die. Jesus was not telling of John’s manner of dying or not dying, he was stating his authority over everything was absolute, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” It was becoming very evident amongst the disciples, that the former ways had changed, and it wasn’t just Jesus’ return in a glorified body from the dead. They were being commissioned to go beyond Jerusalem, Samaria, and into the world with the Good News of the gospel.  

Jesus had one more item he mentioned “...until I return.” The disciples had been taught that Jesus wasn’t going to stay with them in person, but that he would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit after he returned to be with the Father in his kingdom. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going…And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:1-4,16-17a)

Application -  I think all of us in one way or another would be curious about the future. There are definitely enough books, movies, and shows on the subject in our world. But as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has already shown us our future. He has created for us new Heavens and a new Earth “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13), and we will live eternally with God the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 21), and we will see all those who have believed and have died before us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (Heb. 12:1-2) “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thes. 4:14-18)

We have our Lord’s promise, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:1-3 NLT) As for the future, we trust in God the Father and the Lord Jesus whose promises never fail “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Cor.1:20)

This brings us to “...until I return.” Jesus made a promise to every believer, he will return. Paul called it the “catching up” in Greek, the Latin Vulgate calls it “rapture”. This is the blessed hope, our assurance and our hope is Jesus Christ coming back for the dead in Christ and those still living who have put their faith in Him. This is the return every disciple looked and longed for, especially Peter. “I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles…But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (2 Pet. 3:1-2,10-13)

Until the day of his return, we are to be about the work of God the Father. Jesus told us to be on watch for he would come at a time we did not know, and he would reward those who were watching and working. “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” (Luke 12:35-41)

Peter knew of Jesus’ return and he took seriously the work Jesus had given him to do, and as should everyone who is called to the work of God and watch for his return.

Lastly, John now closes his gospel account with the verification that everything he has written is true. Let’s look at the last portion of the text, “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

Truth was the testimony of John. He and the disciples had walked with, ate with, and prayed with the Truth, the risen Lord Jesus Christ. And at the end of his life John had written the gospel about the Truth and Life (Jn.1:1-5) that bears his name, three letters to the churches (1 Jn. 1:1-5, 2 Jn. 1:1-3, 3 Jn. 1:3-4), and the Revelation of Jesus and the end of the age. He wrote of the truth God the Holy Spirit revealed and instructed him to write, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” (John 16:12-14)

John might have known that the gospels and the letters written to the churches would be sufficient in revealing the truth to the world. John knew of the false letters and gospels written while He was still alive, and he as well as Paul, Peter, and the other apostles warned all who would hear about false teachers and false apostles, for they didn’t speak or teach the truth. Jesus’ life and ministry are factually documented and chronicled by the Holy Spirit of God for this purpose: for all to know the Father and His Son and the way of salvation is only through the Son.

Application - There are many who don’t believe the truth of God’s Word, the Bible. And there are many who have distorted and twisted it in incorrect interpretation and lead multitudes astray. Just as Satan did when he tried to tempt Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11).

Nevertheless, the Word of God has stood the test of time “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalms 119:89), and it hasn’t changed nor will it. For it is the Word of God to mankind, it is the Truth that will never lie “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19). It will always achieve its purpose “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isa.55:11), and it will bring those who believe to him “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalms 119:130), and it will condemn those who have forsaken it and twisted the words into lies “As he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” (2 Peter 3:16) . For the Word of God will be the judge “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12), and God’s words were given to draw us to him for it reveals salvation to all who will believe “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17) “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

We don’t need any more testimony or words by God, for His Word is enough. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matt.24:35)

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second, B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com 

This is the last of the Gospel of John series, I’m looking at teaching the pastoral letters next. In His Service