Read John 21:1-5,15-22, Follow Me!

Jesus’ question in 21:5 is profound: Children, have you any food?  It is the lead-in to one of two miraculous catches of fish.  It reminds me too of the two miracles of feeding the multitudes (5000, 4000).  These all go together in my view.  They were miracles more designed for Jesus’ disciples, and especially the Twelve, than for the crowds.  They had to do with the fitness of the disciples for ministry.  Did they have something of value to give?  Was the power for ministry to be found in them or in Christ?  So Jesus asks, have you any food; and they answer, no!  It’s a perfect setup for what follows.

What caught my attention today is Jesus’ words to Peter in v19: follow Me.  That is the third recorded time Jesus used those words in Peter’s presence. 

·        Matthew 4:19: The first time is when Jesus said to the four fishermen, Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.  It is in the imperative, a command. To be specific, Jesus says You (imperative, plural because it was for all four to come together) follow (adverb, not a verb).  In other words, Jesus is telling them to put themselves behind Him, in the back; that is the literal meaning.  This term allows for being spectators, although we understand the goal is that they would become fishers of men.  We also understand that what they did was to go with Him around the Galilee as He ministered and then they returned to their fishing for fish.  There was a second time, recorded in Luke 5:11, after the first great catch of fish, when Jesus did not use the “follow Me” command but simply said, From now on you will catch men.  The result of this was that they forsook all and followed Him.  In other words, from then to until John 21 there is no record that they returned to the fishing business.

·        Matthew 16:24: The second time was after the feeding of the 5000, and most notably after the conversation in Caesarea/Philippi (Who do you say that I am) and after Jesus’ first announcement that the ministry was headed to Jerusalem where He would suffer at the hands of men and die and be raised up.  It is a command but not plural.  It is an individual choice, Jesus essentially saying, I am going to the cross; if any of you want to come along deny yourself, take up your own cross and follow Me.  The word for follow is different, akolouqeitw.  It is the official word for disciples, to follow one who precedes, to join as a disciple.  It means that the goal is not to be a spectator but rather an imitator.  This involves “life-changing mimicry.”

·        John 21:19,22: This brings us to our passage where Jesus actually says it twice, and says it directly to Peter.  The context, of course, is the restoration of Peter to ministry after the three denials.  Jesus wants Peter to do what He did: feed My lambs, tend My sheep, feed My sheep.  It was a message that we know Peter received (cf. 1 Peter 5:1-4).  It is the same word as in Matt. 16:24; it is likewise singular and in the imperative.

This simple study has something wonderful to say to us, something we must hear from Jesus.  One is that following Jesus might begin as something we do with a group of friends but that is never the goal Jesus has in mind.  He is calling us to follow Him in such a way that our lives are changed into the likeness of Him.  Thus, no one else can make this decision for us.  It is personal.  We take up our own cross and follow Him.  Thus we see additionally that following Jesus is not a spectator sport.  If that is where you are with Christ, and you have been in that position for a while, understand that you are in what we might call “baby step two” as a follower of Christ.  Believe in Jesus.  Then become an observer.  His plan for you is that you become an imitator so that in the end the life of Christ and your life will become indistinguishable.