Skip to main content

follow Jesus

John 21:18&19
"18 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.
19 This spake He, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto him, Follow Me."
Jesus had corrected the guilt and shame that Peter felt from betraying His Savior. Jesus recreated the sights, sounds, aromas and feelings of the event, just so Peter could respond in a better way. Peter declared his brotherly love for Jesus three times. Three times, Jesus instructed him to "feed my sheep." This event restored their relationship and solidified Peter's role as a leader.

In today's verses, Jesus prophesied that Peter's future would involve the loss of his freedom and take him on a path that he would not choose. Jesus uses the phrase "stretch out your hands" as a symbolic gesture associated with crucifixion. Hinting at the kind of death Peter would face.

The cost of discipleship will be great. Following Jesus may involve going where one does not want to go and requires surrendering one's will to God's purpose. In hardship and sacrifice, there is always an opportunity to glorify God! Jesus invites us to FOLLOW HIM. Like Peter, we need to follow our Lord and Savior no matter what.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

to be taller

Matthew 6:27 "27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Jesus has questions... Beginning our study this week with "Why Do You Worry?" Questions have always been a cornerstone of education, used to assess students’ knowledge, promote comprehension, and stimulate critical thinking. Well-crafted questions lead to new insights, generate discussion, and promote the comprehensive exploration of the subject. It makes sense that GOD would use questions VERY effectively. In yesterday's verses, Jesus asked "Are you not MUCH BETTER than birds?" His questions do not end there. In today's verse we read another one, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" This is a sentence our culture needs to learn. No anxiety, no thinking, no wanting will alter our bodily height, or any other condition of our life that is fixed by God’s laws. We often wish things were different than they are, but our "wo...
Post a Comment
Read more

we also...

Romans 6:3&4 "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." In our studies we are striving to understand God’s love and care. God's unconditional love for His followers, appreciating that we are part of GOD’S family! God is with us from cradle to grave. His divine presence is always giving us purpose and guidance. One of the most important milestones in the life of a Christian is baptism. When we are baptized, an indelible mark is made on our soul. This mark signifies a permanent transformation and dedication of the individual to God. The act of Baptism involves water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity. This ritual is seen as a symbolic washing away of original sin and a new birth into the life of Christ. Baptism is a foundational s...
Post a Comment
Read more

our daily stress

Matthew 6:11 "Give us this day our daily bread." Last week we focused our studies on “Thy Will Be Done...” We can TRUST in the LORD with ALL our hearts. Let GOD lead us in our daily lives. GOD'S will is for you and me to follow His plan. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Serve Him by helping your friends and neighbors. It's a beautiful way. The rest of this petition is “On Earth as it is in Heaven.” We want God’s kingdom to be established on earth, reflecting the harmony and perfection found in heaven. We can have this in the here and now by prioritizing God’s will, seeking His guidance, and striving to live according to Biblical principles. However, we must keep in mind that we live in a fallen world. Too many will not join in our journey with Jesus. This tension and stress will cause everyone difficulties. This week we will study the fourth petition from the Lord's Prayer. "Give us this day our daily bread." God certainly gives daily bread to every...
Post a Comment
Read more