Personal Accountability
John 21:22 "Jesus saith unto him, 'If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee: follow thou me.'"
The other day a truck came into our shop with these words "God is Good, don't follow me, follow Christ" written in white letters on black mudflaps. Good advise, but wait, what does the Apostle Paul say? "Follow me as I follow Christ." There are those who follow us and we need to leave a path that leads them to Jesus.
The above verse is set in the context of Jesus having asked Peter three times "Do you love me?" and his exasperated answer. Jesus then indicates by what kind of death Peter will glorify God and ends with "Follow me". Is that an invitation or command? Sort of sounds like a command from LORD to slave. Here it is the LORD going before, leading, not sending Peter out on his own. He is the best leader there is!
Peter, who has now had an indication of his future, looks around him, sees John, and asks "What about him?" Now that is a perfectly human response common to all of us. What is he going to do, where is she going to go, how come I have to bear the heavier burden, etc, etc, you may add your own questions.
In essence Jesus responds to Peter with, it is really none of your business. Your responsibility is to follow me. We really have a full time job/responsibility making sure that we are following Jesus. We can't do that and make sure everyone or anyone else is following Jesus. Yes, in making sure we are following Jesus He may lead us to helping others follow Him too.
In the same line of thought, Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit says, "But let a man examine himself..." in relation to communion. God is so good!
We are each, individually, personally accountable to God for our own self, to follow Him. Jesus says to us as well as to Peter, "Follow thou me"!
It is hard to break into the story of Jesus instructing Peter to follow him, but at least start at verse 15 and be encouraged. The questioning by Jesus to Peter relates to the three times Peter denied Jesus after His arrest.
Until next time, Keep Looking Up!
Ron
The other day a truck came into our shop with these words "God is Good, don't follow me, follow Christ" written in white letters on black mudflaps. Good advise, but wait, what does the Apostle Paul say? "Follow me as I follow Christ." There are those who follow us and we need to leave a path that leads them to Jesus.
The above verse is set in the context of Jesus having asked Peter three times "Do you love me?" and his exasperated answer. Jesus then indicates by what kind of death Peter will glorify God and ends with "Follow me". Is that an invitation or command? Sort of sounds like a command from LORD to slave. Here it is the LORD going before, leading, not sending Peter out on his own. He is the best leader there is!
Peter, who has now had an indication of his future, looks around him, sees John, and asks "What about him?" Now that is a perfectly human response common to all of us. What is he going to do, where is she going to go, how come I have to bear the heavier burden, etc, etc, you may add your own questions.
In essence Jesus responds to Peter with, it is really none of your business. Your responsibility is to follow me. We really have a full time job/responsibility making sure that we are following Jesus. We can't do that and make sure everyone or anyone else is following Jesus. Yes, in making sure we are following Jesus He may lead us to helping others follow Him too.
In the same line of thought, Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit says, "But let a man examine himself..." in relation to communion. God is so good!
We are each, individually, personally accountable to God for our own self, to follow Him. Jesus says to us as well as to Peter, "Follow thou me"!
It is hard to break into the story of Jesus instructing Peter to follow him, but at least start at verse 15 and be encouraged. The questioning by Jesus to Peter relates to the three times Peter denied Jesus after His arrest.
Until next time, Keep Looking Up!
Ron
posted by Ron | 8:21 AM
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