As for you, follow Me

(Transition) As we close out our long study of the gospel of John we will look at the commissioning of an apostle, but the real focus is on the words “Follow Me.” Something we all need to grab a hold of and do.

Closing words (the text)

John 21:18 NASB95

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.”

John 21:19–20 NASB95

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?”

John 21:21–22 NASB95

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!”

John 21:23 NASB95

23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

John 21:24 NASB95

24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

John 21:25 NASB95

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

What do you see as the “main” point of this passage?

Anything else stick out to you in this passage?

What is the promise Jesus speaks to Peter (vv.18 then 19)?

You will be led where you do not wish to go.

You will bring glory to God by your death

What does Peter do in response to the words from Jesus (v.20)?

Turns around (more to follow on this in a few minutes)

What is Peter’s inquiry of the Lord, and the Lord’s response (vv.21-22)?

What about him?

What is it to you? Follow Me!

What did the brethren believe (v.23)?

That John would not die before He returned

John closes with a final thought, what is it (v.25)?

Many things not written, not enough books that all Jesus did could be written.

The commissioning of an apostle

John 21:18–19 NLT

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.”

Jesus had spoken life into the ministry work, the calling of Peter (vv.15-17) now we get to this.

Like when we were young, so was Peter who did, went where he wanted.

Things were going to change from where/what you want, to what will glorify God

Jesus mentions Peter’s past, but tells of his future, the kind of death he would suffer, but it would be that death that will glorify God.

“This would give Peter a great assurance. In the crucial moment a few weeks before, Peter denied Jesus three times to save himself from the cross. Jesus assured Peter- most assuredly — he would face the challenge of the cross once again and he would embrace it. Jesus promised Peter that he would die in utter faithfulness to his Messiah and Lord.” (Guzik)

Hearing of the death Jesus would suffer originally, Peter opposed it (Mt16:21ff)

Peter then boasted would die for him and not deny him (Mt26:35)

Peter under pressure denied (Jn19:25-27)

But now, Peter will go and die for Christ and bring glory to God for it.

Can we do the same thing? Can we go from talking but not walking, to walking and glorifying?

Peters death would bring glory, just like Lazarus death did (Jn11:4, 40) as did Jesus death itself (Jn12:23ff); May we have the same desire (Php1:20-21)

Philippians 1:20–21 NASB95

20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Armed with this information Jesus issues the command “follow Me.”

This is present imperative, which literally means ‘Keep following Me.”

Morris: “There is possibly significance in the use of the present tense here. ‘Keep on following’ will be the force of it. Peter had followed Christ, but not continuously in the past. For the future he was to follow steadfastly in the ways of the Lord.”

Keep your eyes on Jesus

John 21:20–21 NLT

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?”

John 21:22–23 NLT

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?”

Circumstances can change what, where, how we look at things.

Peter turned and inquired about John, what about him?

Jesus wants us to keep our eyes on Him, let Him worry about others what He does or does not do with them.

Peter had a history of taking his eyes of Jesus

Looked away from Jesus to what Jesus did (Lk5:6-10) - great catch of fish

In midst of the storm (Mt14:25-30) - walking on water

Now, again, he takes his eyes off of Jesus, thinking of the manner of death he is going to suffer, what about John?

The Lord rebuked Peter “what is it of you?”

Peter your job is to follow Me, do not worry about others, follow Me!

We can be distracted by circumstances and forget our job, what we are called to do, follow Jesus.

No we do not forget about others, we do not ignore others for we are to care for others (Php2:1-4). Just don’t let what we think God is, is not doing with others distract us from God has for us. - our job, lead people to Him.

Peter did not know what John was going to face, and he would face many things, I will touch on this in a few minutes.

We know what they believed and what Jesus said were two different things, is that not what happens even today?

Wiersbe: “More problems are caused by confused saints than by lost sinners! Misinterpreting the Word of God only creates misunderstanding about God’s people and God’s plan for His people.”

(transition) - - -what we have seen so far tonight. 1. keep your eyes on Jesus, 2. Don’t get distracted thinking about what God is or is not doing in others lives. 3. Be sure you grasp what Jesus is saying, get God’s interpretation not your own or from some preacher, including me. - that brings us to the conclusion of the gospel.

The conclusion of the gospel of John

John 21:24–25 NLT

24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate. 25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

John tells you, makes implication, that he is the writer and he is the witness and his witness is true.

Witness was a key theme for John, He used it forty-seven times. John witnessed the events, shared in the events, then wrote of the events under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

There were many things that could be said, but John had a purpose (Jn20:31).

John, along with Peter have had a great journey with Jesus, from fishermen, to fishers of men, and we can learn much from this gospel and hope that you have.

Just follow Me!

Peter was instructed to follow Me, it does not matter what I do with him, with others, as for you, follow Me.

Peter was told with the apostles to go to Galilee and wait for Jesus, Peter went fishing along the way and took others with him

Peter in the garden tried to defend Jesus with a sword when it was made known he was to be handed over.

Peter said was willing to go to death for him, yet denied him three times.

Peter came to Jesus by the fire on the beach, was reminded of his devotion, his love, even if it was not perfect, but Peter, just follow Me.

Peter took his eyes of Jesus in the water in the storm. Peter took his eyes off Jesus, turned and looked around and again Jesus told him follow Me.

Lessons/applications we can get from Peter

Be encouraged. Peter did not always get it right, do right, but yet Jesus used him, and told him he would be faithful to the end. Peter was going to keep what was committed to him.

Be enlightened. Peter asked about John, but he had no idea what John would endure, Put in cauldron of boiling oil, exiled to Patmos where the worse criminals, most perverted criminals were sent. John was going to live a long life with many sufferings, Peter was going to be crucified and go to heaven. We can learn that we don’t know the big picture, don’t need to know it, we just need to be faithful to what God has called us, commissioned us to do and do that. Follow Jesus!

Be enlarged. John was a contemplator, a thinker, Peter was an activist. When called Peter was casting a net, John was on the shore mending a net. Peter was the evangelist, John was the exampled elder. God calls different people to different things, different talents, different temperments, both brought glory to God for them following Jesus, just as we can and should.

Be instructed. Jesus said “Follow Me.” Step out by faith, follow Jesus His way, don’t plot your course, he set the course to provide for you, protect you and to use you. So Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus for eternal life, for His words bring eternal life as you have seen in the gospel we have just finished.

Are you following Jesus?

(prayer) (Close)

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