03/03/2025
We have looked at John 21:17 to explore the love and equipping of Peter as Jesus questioned him, but this morning let's look at what He was being told to do when Jesus said "Feed my sheep." I find it interesting that when Jesus questioned Peter and told him to "Feed his sheep" that all the apostles (including Peter) had already received the Holy Spirit and directions, but here Peter was being given more. Let's review what happened and what they were told when the Holy Spirit was breathed onto them...
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
John 20:21-22 KJV
So in this way they received the Holy Ghost and tongues of fire; in this they received the power necessary to accomplish what Jesus needed them to do... to be witnesses of Him. But they were told something else as well... something that we read right past... He says, "as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." He was asking them to continue the work He had been sent to do.
Jesus was sent to fulfill scripture, but He was also sent as a sacrifice for man's sin. As I studied the lives of the apostles, I found that all but one were martyred for their faith, and several were crucified. The only one who died of old age was John whom Jesus entrusted to care for His mother. All of them went into the world and witnessed to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ by spreading the good news of the gospel. and they each died for their faith, but Peter was crucified in Rome, and he asked to be crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to be crucified as Jesus was. Do we feel unworthy too? How do we envision following Him to Calvary?
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 KJV
So, they were told to go out into the world, they were given foreign tongues, and they were also given the power to perform miracles and preach the gospel. Each of them was sent as Jesus was sent. So, what happened with Peter and the others when they received the peace of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in John 21? This scripture is interpreted in a few ways, but all agree that they were being told how they would die... it was here that Peter became aware that he would face crucifixion.
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”
John 21:18-19 KJV
Interestingly enough one apostle tarried behind the others. One would not die with the others. Looking through the eyes of history, I am inclined to believe this was John, and in verse 24 this is confirmed.
“This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.”
John 21:24 KJV
So, Peter was taught through the questioning of his love, and he was made aware of his ability to fail when he denied Jesus, but in experiencing these things he was given strength, and he followed Jesus, knowing ultimately that he would die… and how. Peter fed the sheep of Christ all his days and became the rock on which Jesus founded his church... and he did so in full knowledge of the price he would pay... Peter loved Jesus completely, and never denied Him again, even unto death on his own cross… hanging upside down. We are called to follow Jesus in much the same way that Peter was. How do we read this passage in Matthew 16, and coupled with the Holy Spirit, what do we believe it tells us about our faith, our lives, and ultimately about our deaths and resurrection…
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”
Matthew 16:24-26 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to redeem me, and for calling me to carry on by picking up my cross and continuing to deliver the good news He brought to us. Father, give me the faith of Peter; allow me to follow when you call despite the price I might one day pay in the process.
The debt that your Son Jesus paid is beyond my ability to pay Lord and yet you give Him to us as our example through your grace and mercy. I feel unworthy Father, but still I ask that you strengthen me when I hear His voice beckon me "come", and I ask that you help me search the depth of my love for Him so that I can know it completely. Holy Father, in my life I strive to accept your call to go into the world with your message of hope, and I pray that I am prepared to follow Christ into death if He should say to me "follow".
May your will and purpose be served in my life Lord, and in all things teach me your way. As Peter learned of his love for Jesus, I pray that so might I. As Peter learned to follow, so may I. Father, call me now, and let my Lord Jesus say... “even so come.”
May the love and grace of Christ be with me and with us all. Let the peace of Christ, and your Holy Spirit be poured and breathed out upon me and instill in me the strength I need to pick up our my cross and follow after Him wherever your will should lead Him and me. I pray now and every day that I will not only have the faith to pray the words “your will not mine be done”, but the courage to obey you in it and glorify you.
Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God in whom I trust and before whom I lay my life. Holy are you who will pick me up from my death in this world and breathe eternal life back into me. Though frightened to go where I have never gone before, my faith draws me on, and my trust in your Word stills my heart. These are your promises, hope and life, and in them I trust you always.
Jesus, show me the way to our Heavenly Father, call me in divine truth to follow you, and teach me to live my life for Him through you… joyfully and for forevermore. To my life, death, resurrection, and our Father’s will, I say Amen.
Hallelujah, and Amen!
“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:5-6 ESV
“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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17 ESV
“and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:26 ESV
Rich Forbes