Follow Me!
[John 21:18-25]
John 21:15 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, "Feed my lambs." 15
John 21:16 He said to him 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, "Tend my sheep." 16
John 21:17 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 everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep." 17
John 21:18-19 18 Truly,
truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19 (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 21:20-21 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 20
John 21:22-23 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" 22
John 21:24-25 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. 24
John 21:18-19 18 Truly,
truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19 (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."
Follow Me! • Following Jesus is Costly (v. 18-19)
John 12:25-26 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 25
Follow Me! • Following Jesus is Costly (v. 18-19) - cost of dying to self - cost of suffering
John 15:18,20 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. 18
John 21:18-19 18 Truly,
truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19 (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 13:37-38 Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." 37
Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. 38
1 Peter 4:14,16 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 16 If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 14
John 21:18-19 18 Truly,
truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19 (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."
Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
Philippians 1:20-21 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Let us pray, while we live in health, that we may glorify God in our end. Let us leave it to God to choose the where, and when, and how, and all the manner of our departing. Let us only ask that it may glorify God. J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Follow Me! • Following Jesus is Costly (v. 18-19) • Following Jesus is Individual (v. 20-23)
John 21:20-21 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 20
John 21:22-23 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" 22
Follow Me! • Following Jesus is Costly (v. 18-19) • Following Jesus is Individual (v. 20-23) • Following Jesus is based on Fact and Faith (v. 24-25)
John 21:24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
John 19:35 He who saw it has borne witness- his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truththat you also may believe.
John 21:25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky. Frederick M. Lehman, “The Love of God� (1917)
John 21:25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
John 20:30-31 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 12:46 “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.�