Follow Thou Me
Dearly beloved, the day after his resurrection out from among the dead, Jesus appeared to eleven of his apostles and disciples behind closed doors.
Eight days later, he appeared to all twelve apostles and the disciples with them. Thomas was absent the first time he appeared to them. This time he was present and believed. Some of those present even doubted the second time Jesus appeared to them.
Then, later on, Jesus appeared a third time to seven disciples, five of which were apostles.
John 21 records this event. Peter and six others went fishing. They took the boat out about 100 yards from shore, but even though they fished all night, they did not catch a single fish. That’s a tough night for men who made their living fishing.
That morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was him.
Jesus said, “Children, have you any meat? They answered him, No.” He said, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and you shall find. [Peter had heard those words before...] They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.”
The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord.” Peter girt his fisher’s shirt, and cast himself into the sea, while the others came in a little boat dragging the net with the fishes.
As soon then as they landed they saw a fire of coals, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus said, “Bring of the fishes you have now caught.”
Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes, 153 in all, and yet the net was not broken. Peter was no weakling.
Jesus said, “Come and dine.” None of the disciples dared to ask him who he was, knowing it was the Lord. Then Jesus took the bread, and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
“This was now the third time that he showed himself to his disciples after he was risen out from among the dead.”
After eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love [agapao] me more than these fishes?” Peter said, “Yea, Lord; you know that I love [phileo] you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to Peter again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love [agapao] me?” He said, “Yea, Lord; you know that I love [phileo] you.” He said, “Feed my sheep.”
Peter had denied the Lord six times before the cock had twice crowed three times. As they removed the hood from Jesus’ bludgeoned head after being unmercifully beaten by the members of the Sanhedrin, the Lord's eyes and Peter's met.
Peter left hurriedly and wept bitterly. This memory had to be etched in Peter’s mind.
Jesus asked him a third time, “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he had asked him this a third time. He replied, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
Jesus was challenging Peter to walk in greater love and dedication to his master. The three challenges were each different, though the English does not distinguish them. He challenged Peter to feed three different categories of sheep: male lambs, female lambs, and all of his adult sheep.
In essence the Lord told Peter, “If you love me, take the responsibility I have given you and nourish my people; feed them the scriptures and pastor them faithfully.”
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When you were young, you girded yourself, and walked where you wanted: but when you are old, you will stretch forth your hands, and another will gird you and carry you whither you would not have gone.”
The Lord was illustrating the great responsibility he would soon have by comparing a young, immature man who did his own will, to an older and more mature adult who did another's bidding. Peter was to walk with his master and carry out his will. He was to follow and obey him.
The Lord was calling Peter to be his “doulos”, which made a free will decision to give a life time of service to his master out of love for him. He is wholly dedicated to his master.
Peter was to be a committed servant to his master, and to follow him in order to carry out the responsibility to lead and serve God’s people.
“This spake he [Jesus], signifying, by what means [omit the word, “death”] he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”
Textual evidence from Greek cursive manuscripts indicate that the word “death” was not in the original texts. The context is speaking of service, not of death. Death does not glorify God; it is the last enemy that will be destroyed at the Great White Throne Judgement.
Peter would soon glorify God by obeying and serving under the care and guidance of Jesus Christ, not by dying. The Lord told Peter, “Follow me.” The Lord was working with Peter to get him to rise up and accept the responsibility to lead as he had trained him.
Soon the care of the churches would fall squarely on his shoulders and he would have to follow the Christ if he was to minister to them effectually.
On Pentecost, Peter would receive the holy spirit, which is power from on high. It would enable him to walk by the spirit and to walk in the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation, enabling him to love as Christ had loved them. This would glorify God and enable Peter to minister deliverance to His people.
Peter would grow to become a faithful “doulos” as his Lord charged him when he said; “Follow thou Me.”