John 21:18–19

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Jesus has forgiven Peter. His triple command to “feed my sheep” settles that. Peter now has a job to do.

Here Jesus follows that up with a stark warning. The words, “you will stretch out your hands,” and, “carry you where you do not wish,” hint at crucifixion.

Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down because he didn’t want to be crucified the same way his Lord was. There little hard evidence of his being crucified (upside down or otherwise), but we do know that Peter was martyred. Clement of Rome’s first letter to the Corinthians mentions Peter’s martyrdom.

Peter, through unrighteous envy, endured not one or two, but numerous labours, and when he had finally suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him. — 1 Clement 5:4 (Roberts-Donaldson translation)

If there’s any doubt about what Jesus is saying here, John leaves no doubt with, “This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.”

“Stretch out your hands,” isn’t an exercise.

Experts disagree on exactly what Jesus meant by, “Follow Me." He’ll say it again in verse 22, so it doesn’t seem to be a command to follow Him somewhere at that moment.

More likely, it’s a command to be a follower of Christ. That’s hardly surprising.

But there might be the double-entendre of Peter following Christ to the cross. If Peter is to follow in Jesus’s footsteps, it means more than just believing in Him. Peter is to be the head of Christ’s church, and that’s a bold assignment.

Still, the commands Jesus gives Peter are commands for us, too. “Following” Jesus is more than just believing, or even working for, Him. Jesus set an example that we are meant to emulate.

Obviously, this doesn’t mean things like raise our friends from the dead or feed 5,000 people; only Jesus can do those things. We are called to think and act like Christ—to have His heart, His perspective, His priorities.

He is the model. We are the copies.

We are called to follow in His footsteps, wherever they may lead.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.