"You follow Me."

John 21from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. ² Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

⁴ But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” ⁶ And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. ⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. ⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

⁹ So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” ¹¹ Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. ¹⁴ This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.

¹⁵ So 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, “Tend My lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him again 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, “Shepherd 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.

¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” ¹⁹ Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

²⁰ Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” ²¹ So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

Again in today’s text the disciples did not recognize Jesus by His physical appearance or by His voice. They recognized Him by the miracle performed in their presence. They recognized Him because although they had worked and toiled all night, they had caught no fish, but in the presence of Jesus there was bounty and provision. Jesus says:  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)      When we are yoked to Jesus we have rest for our souls. It is not a rest of inactivity or slumber, but rather a rest, a peace and comfort that comes with working with Jesus. When we are yoked to Christ we no longer need to toil in our own strength. We live  the abundant life He came to give.

When Jesus had been ministering to the Samaritan woman and the disciples encouraged Him to eat, He responded:   “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” (John 4:34)  So also with us, if we are truly yoked to Christ, if we are working with Him, our ministry should be life giving. What we do for Christ, our service, our ministry should never be a burden it should be as food to our body, soul and spirit. Jesus did not reprimand Peter for straying and going back to what was familiar to him, hard physical work. Instead Jesus reminded Peter , recreating the bounty and provision which first caused Peter to see who Jesus was. We see the account in Luke 5:4-11:        When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”  Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;  so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.  But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”  For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;  and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”  When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.      Jesus again reminds Peter of what He has called him to do, He says:   “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, “Tend My lambs.”

Jesus repeated the question and the call to Peter two more times. A study of the Greek words used by Jesus reveals that it was not merely repetition, but Jesus was asking Peter if he truly loved Jesus with a sacrificial love, with a love that would cause him to give up his own life for the sake of Christ’s call. Peter didn’t quite get it, he didn’t quite understand what Jesus was asking. Jesus says:  Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.”  Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

Jesus never promises us that a life given to Him will be easy. On the contrary He says: If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20)  He calls us though, in spite of what may happen, like Peter to: Follow Him. If we are yoked to Christ, if we are walking in step with Him, nothing that comes against us will be a burden, even if we are called to die for Christ, we will have rest for our soul.  

There is one final lesson we can learn from Jesus words to Peter. In verses 20-22, it says:  Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”  So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”  Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”        We should not concern ourselves with  what Jesus has called others to do. We should not look at whether their path seems easier than ours. We should not look at which gifts and callings He has given to them. If others are called to follow Him differently, Jesus asks: “what is that to you?”    Jesus says to each one of us:  “You follow Me!”     If we will truly follow Jesus, if we will be yoked to Him our lives should not be filled with toil and labor. Doing what Jesus has called us to do should be life giving, as food for our body, soul and spirit. We should live in the abundance of Christ. His abundance may not be an abundance of material blessings, but rather an abundance that reminds us that reveals to us, who He is.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; Holy Spirit thank You for calling me. Thank You for the abundance You have given me, an abundance which reveals to me, who You are. Holy Spirit I pray that You would fill me and guide me to walk in the path that Jesus has called me to. I pray that You would keep me yoked to Christ, working and walking with Him. Help me not to look at or concern myself with how You have called others. In all that I do may I truly follow You.   Amen