Follow Me

Mark 14:27–28 NASB95

27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ 28 “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

This account we find in John 21 emphasizes and raises our attention to be focused on Peter. His interaction with Jesus. This account of the third manifestation of Jesus after his resurrection seeks to reveal to us the power of Jesus’ resurrection in the live of Peter. Before this account we have seen a portrait of Peter and has its ups and downs. Peter meets Jesus and Jesus is the one who actually gives Simeon his name Peter which means rock. Peter is the Disciple that we are told was the first to identify Jesus as Christ. He is also the one who gets to witness the transfiguration. Peter even declares to Jesus his desire to follow after him no matter if others turn away. That is all good but then we get the other side of Peter. The one who nearly drowns due to his lack of Faith. A Peter who gets influenced by Satan to tell Jesus that he will not let him go to his death. A Peter, a fisherman trying to become a warrior but cuts off a dudes ear. To top all that off, A Peter that after he said he will always follow Jesus, Denies him three times at the most crucial moment in the life of Jesus.

Portrait of Peter:

The Ups:

Simeon the Fisherman to Fishing for men.

Called by Jesus and Call Peter

Peter identifies Jesus as Christ

Confesses to Jesus that He will follow him even if he has to die.

The Downs:

Peter nearly drowns due to a lack of faith

Gets rebuked by Jesus for acting like an agent of Satan.

Doesn’t see the supremacy of Jesus over Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration

Cuts off the ear of a solider trying to arrest Jesus that Jesus has to heal

Denies Jesus three times for fear of being associated with Jesus and potentially beaten like Jesus.

Now we come to John 21 and it seems to be a slideshow of all those moments in the life of Peter relived, but with a different ending. Here we see Peter, fishing again, leaping out of boats again, and warming himself by yet another fire, and affirming his love for Jesus again. Though this isn’t exactly mentioned in the text, as you read this and having read all that has come before concerning the accounts of Peter’s involvement in Jesus’ Ministry, it is reasonable to assume that this account is meant to address Peter and finally break the cycle of the ups and down and truly call him to Follow Jesus. The Peter we begin to see here and then see in the book of acts is a completely different Peter. It is a Peter that is restored and a Peter that is Empowered.

John 21:14–22 NASB95

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!”

I. A Peter Restored.

A. Will your Failures keep you from following me?

Peter is confronted with his failure here at another fire with another 3 questions. There is some evidence here that Peter might already be struggling with some guilt and shame from his denial. Jesus wants to know if Peter’s failure will keep him from following after what Jesus want Him to do- feed his sheep.

1. Negative: Will your failures keep you from following Jesus completely?

2. Positive: Will forgiveness lead you to following Jesus?

B. Will your Fear keep you from Following me?

Jesus reveals to Peter the manner in which he will die. He denied his relationship with Jesus for fear of what others might do and now will his fear of how others will kill him keep him from following Jesus.

Jesus also reminding Peter of something he said in John 13:36

John 13:36–37 NASB95

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”

1. Negative: Will your fears keep you from Following Jesus?

2. Positive: Will you live for Jesus even if it consumes your life?

C. Will your Friends keep you from following me?

Jesus first question to Peter is if they loves Him more than “These”. The reference is seemingly vague but the implication is still the same. Whether Jesus is talking about the Disciples (friends) or the fish (his work) the pointe of the questions is the same, Do you love Me more than anyone or anything? If you do than follow me.

The second instances occurs in verse 21 when Peter asks about John. Jesus draw’s his attention back to Him- “Focus! You follow me!”

1. Negative: Will others keep you from following after Jesus?

2. Positive: Will you follow Jesus inviting others in?

Redemption is a means to reestablish your true calling.

Forgetting what lies behind and focusing on what lies ahead.

II. Peter Empowered.

The fumbling Peter we read in the gospels is no longer present in the books of acts. Peter becomes emboldened and empowered with the Spirit and begins to Preach the Gospel and lead believers is a life of following after Jesus. The Peter we see and read about in Acts and in his own Epistles is different than the Peter we see in the Gospels. This demonstrates to us that our redemption clears the way for our empowered life in the Spirit that enables us to truly follow after Jesus.

There is a difference in Peter from this moment on.

Emptied of the guilt and shame, restored relationship with Jesus- The Holy Spirit can now be poured in.

What Jesus is asking of Peter is the same that Jesus asks all of us. Follow Me! Not half hearted but completely. If all your past can be set right, if you can be free from guilt and shame, If broken relationships can be reconciled, will you then follow after me with all your heart? If I empower you and give to you my Spirit will you Follow me and live your life in service to the Kingdom.