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Reflections on John 21: "You Follow Me!"

After his three denials on the night of Jesus' betrayal, John 21 tells the story of Peter's restoration by Jesus. The Master asked him, "Do you love me?" And how was Peter to show his love? By feeding Jesus' sheep. By providing for God's people, his church.

I'm struck by Jesus' admonition not to worry about the assignment given to another disciple. After Peter heard a cryptic description of his own future, he pointed at John and asked, "What about him?"

Jesus answered, "What is that to you?" How does my plan for him relate to you doing what I've called you to do? "You follow me!"

I need this admonition. Because so often I take my eyes off of Jesus and start looking around at the other disciples he has called and deployed in his work. I want to know where I am in the pecking order. I want to figure out who has been given the best job.

But I don't need this information to fulfill my assignment. I don't have to be better than a fellow-disciple or even know how I "stack up" to serve and obey my Lord.

Jesus says, "You follow me." That's all I need to hear.

Posted by on April 29, 2008

Comments (7)

I love that passage. It keeps me from envying others, too. Why do they have what I don't? It doesn't matter... I am to follow Him.

Posted by Anna | April 29, 2008 12:09 PM

This reflection was very insightful and helpful too as I prepare to preach this Sunday on Mark 1. 16-20, the first time that Peter heard the "follow me" call from Jesus.

May God bless you Josh.

In Him,

Filipe

Posted by Filipe Niel | April 29, 2008 2:05 PM

thanks for sharing a personal, insightful reflection. perhaps, Jesus' response to Peter, "you follow me" was another reminder of Luke 9:23 - "if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up HIS CROSS and follow me." For Peter, it wasn't John's cross that he was going to bear but his own. That's probably why Jesus is telling Peter to just follow him with mindfulness of HIS OWN calling which is HIS OWN cross-bearing (the cost of following Christ with that calling). i too can relate to what you shared here, so many times i would be envious or even feel inadequate, witnessing how others are gifted or experienced in their ministries, and this would distract me to be faithful with God's calling for me. pray for me and others in ministry to press on with our cross-bearing and our calling in following the Way of Christ. once again, thanks for this sharing.

Posted by Joe Lee | April 29, 2008 4:53 PM

And when I think, "Hey, how come so-and-so gets to reach all THOSE people? How come they get to serve in their church?" Then God shows me that when I do something for "the least of these" I am doing it for Him. What could be a greater honor in service than to serve Him?
Thank you for sharing about your convictions.
May we each follow Him without wavering, questioning or turning our eyes from Him.
God bless.

Posted by Nicole T. | April 29, 2008 6:17 PM

Thanks for this timely post. So easy to be looking at others rater than Jesus.

Posted by Boaly | April 30, 2008 3:31 AM

Hey Josh,

You might appreciate this video from the New Word Alive conference in the UK recently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e264cCWeyFI

Sex is not the Problem, Lust is, shopping-channel style!

Posted by Gareth Russell | April 30, 2008 2:59 PM

Hi there Josh,

Thank you for your perspective on what Jesus is trying to say to us in this passage. The reverend of our congregation actually used the same passage in his Sunday-morning service this past Sunday (27 April).

God Bless

Tian(South Africa)

Posted by Tian Boonzaaier | May 2, 2008 5:43 AM

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