(This He said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” John 21:19
The Lord has just shared some amazing news with Peter. What he promised the Lord he would do – go to the death for Him, he will
do. Not only that he will die exactly as the Lord did – crucified on a Roman cross. Peter is not yet spiritually mature and at this point he is likely anxious about this news. He has failed before, can he handle this?.
But did this happen? Was the Lords’ prophecy correct? The Gospel of John is written (late in the first century (60-100 A.D). As John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit pens these words, he likely thrilled in his heart because he has seen this prophecy fulfilled. Peter lived around another 30 years after he met the Lord at the Sea of Galilee. The Bible tells us of Peter’s ministry in Jerusalem but it does not tell us how he goes to Rome or about his death. For that information we have to go to the historical records and the early church fathers.
(This data is not divinely inspired but it gives insight into the fulfillment od the Lord’s prophecy.)
According to those records, Peter died in Rome in AD 64 under the reign of Emperor Nero. By that time all of the other apostles except for John had been martyred for the Lord. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote that the Great Fire of Rome began in July of 64 AD in the Circus Maximus and burned for 5 days. Roman citizens immediately accused Nero for starting the fire but Nero blamed a group known as the Christians, some of whom he had thrown to animals and burned alive. The early church fathers tell us Peter was crucified (just as the Lord said). Tradition tells us Peter did not consider himself to be worthy to be crucified as the Lord was so he requested that he be crucified upside down to honor the Lord’s deity. Whether that is is true or not, we do not know – what we do know is Peter gave his life for the Lord just as Jesus told him he would (and he did it faithfully).Bit before his death Peter has 3 decades to sere the Lord so He instructs Peter how to live,
Follow me The Lord now issues Peter a familiar command. This is what the Lord said to Peter when he first called him to be a disciple. His message has not changed (Nor does it change for us.) He tells Peter who has failed so badly but wants so much to serve the Lord what he must do. Follow Him. The Greek word follow indicates a commitment to adhere to the words and lifestyle of Jesus. That commitment is to be true through suffering and sacrifice. But for Peter following the Lord requires a change of direction in his life. He has been following his own will – he must give that up and walk where and how Jesus walks. The Greek word for follow means “to walk”. This implies living like Enoch did. He “walked with God.” The Lord minces no words. If Peter wants to serve the Lord he must deny himself and follow Jesus – the exact opposite of what he has been doing. Is he willing to deny himself and follow Jesus?
What can we learn? Peter told the Lord he would die for him then he denied him. Now the Lord tells him he can be restored to full fellowship and service but the cost is still the same. Peter might remember the words of the Lord “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) One might feel the Lord is being harsh in telling Peter he will die for him but the Lord wants Peter to count the cost. Earlier he ran into opposition that endangered his life and which caused him to turn away from the Lord. Peter knows firsthand the shame and grief of that denial. So the Lord is honest with Him. Following the Lord will not get any easier – in fact it will require Peter giving up everything including his life. Is he willing to walk that path – the path the Lord walked to the cross?
Is he willing to completely deny himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus? The Lord says to follow Him but He does not force him to. Today we follow the Lord not knowing what the future holds – only the Lord knows that. What we do know is that the cost to follow the Lord is everything. The cost to follow the Lord is full surrender –all of our heart! This principle is so important it is recorded in several of the Gospels (see Matthew 16:24) Some will pay that cost by giving their lives as a living sacrifice, some will do it by giving a sacrifice of death but all require a sacrifice. For Peter following the Lord requires both. Is the man who was willing just to be the slave of Jesus willing to deny
himself and follow Jesus? Are we?