The Gospel of John reveals some of Peter’s greatest missteps and moments of weakness, from a failed water-walking attempt to cutting off a man’s ear. His darkest moment came when he denied being Jesus’s disciple. But for all of his fumbles and failures, Jesus never rejected Peter, even after Peter’s vehement rebuttal. It’s clear in John 21 that the relationship between Master and disciple is restored.
It’s an early morning of breakfast and conversation, seaside. Three times Jesus questions Peter’s love for Him, echoing Peter’s trilogy of denials in the previous chapter. Jesus’s responses involve calling Peter to care for His sheep, for His Church. It’s a redemptive moment for us, as we see that Peter has been forgiven and included in Jesus’s plans for His kingdom.
Jesus also reveals a hard truth: Peter’s future martyrdom. We shouldn’t see this as a punishment for earlier mistakes, since Jesus doesn’t give any indication of this. Neither does He elaborate on the details or even the time frame regarding the end of Peter’s life. Instead, He issues both an invitation and a command.
“Follow me.” —John 21:19
Jesus places how Peter will die in the context of how he should live. “Follow me.” This two-word sentence is the driving theme of Jesus’s directives to Peter. When we reflect on the conversation in whole, we are reminded of what it means to say yes to Him. The call to follow Jesus is a commitment to discipleship, a commitment to live out the gospel in a world that is opposed to the message of hope.
“Follow me.” Jesus’s instruction to Peter isn’t just a one-time action. In the original Greek reading, the phrase carries the meaning of repeated action. Each day that we live is an opportunity to embrace the invitation to follow Jesus, to love Him deeply, and to serve Him wholeheartedly.
Perhaps when reading John 21, the revelation of Peter’s death alarms us, maybe even disturbs us. Jesus refuses to shield us from the truth. As His disciples, we will encounter hard seasons and challenging times, often. But whatever interval of life we go through, we submit to His will. Jesus knows from experience what opposition, what pain, what grief feels like. And “as our merciful and faithful high priest” (Hebrews 2:17), He is with us, infusing us with the strength to endure all that we face.
Other Scriptures, including Peter’s writings, reveal to us that Peter remained faithful to Jesus’s call to “shepherd my sheep” (John 21:16). Echoing Jesus’s words, Peter encouraged other leaders to “shepherd God’s flock” (1Peter 5:2), overseeing God’s people with care and compassion.
We may not all hold a formal leadership title. But as members of God’s flock, He has commissioned each of us to follow Him, to carry out whatever He has entrusted to us. And Peter promises that when our chief Shepherd returns for us, He will reward our faithfulness (1Peter 5:4).
AUSTIN OLIVIA— oh my goodness. Will definitely keep her in my prayers— for healing and comfort. As well as your family.
At the scene of Peter’s denial of Jesus:
“Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.” John 18:18
Peter stands by a charcoal fire… warming himself… taking care of his own physical needs. And he denies Jesus. Peter was the one who had said back in chapter 13 that he would lay down his life for Jesus.
At the Sea of Tiberias:
“When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’” John 21:9-10
Note that even though Jesus has just arranged a miraculous catch of fish, when the disciples reach the shore there is a charcoal fire (John wants us to remember the other charcoal fire), but Jesus already has fish on it before they even bring their fish! Here Peter allows Jesus to take care of his physical needs and he is restored by Jesus. Where does Jesus want me to depend on Him for strength to follow Him instead of pridefully mustering up my own strength?
Between the Scripture in Hebrews and Tameshia’s devotional I know that whatever my pain or hurting or sorrow or worry or care is Jesus has felt it. But MORE IMPORTANT than that He and God and the Holy Spirit will carry me through whatever burdens I have. I believe that the hard times, the grief, the bad times have allowed me to be able to help others and made me a stronger person and most important of all MADE MY FAITH SO MUCH STRONGER.
BUT GOD!!! BUT JESUS!!! BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT!!
Sisters, be blessed and don’t let your hardships or your burdens get you down turn them over to the Lord. Have a great weekend.
Go listen to the song “The Commission” by the group Cain. So beautiful!
This study has been such a blessing for me. May God bless you all ❤️
I love that Jesus took the time to cook and have breakfast with them. That just really stands out to me.
Once again I am moved to tears! I have enjoyed this study SO much!
There’s truth in: God is always on time! He is never late! This study came at the right time. The last part of Tameshia’s was exactly what I needed to hear. I might not ever hold a leadership title but I am HIS! I am commissioned to follow HIM and carry out whatever he has commissioned me to do. I’m going to be OK.
Once again I am moved to tears! I have enjoyed this study SO much!