The Grace to Follow
Remember the days when you were young and your mom or dad asked you to do something? I’m not sure how that conversation went at your house, but in our home the response went something like, “but mommmm!” We then immediately blamed someone else for the mess or “graciously” volunteered another sibling to complete the task at hand.
As I think of these moments in my life, I can still see and hear my younger self whining, complaining, and stomping around. Yes, I know– I was that kid. As I look back, I can see that the heart of the issue was simply this: an expectation was placed on me, and instead I wanted the easy, self-gratifying and more appealing road.
Can you relate?
Although we might not be throwing physical temper tantrums anymore (at least I hope not), we certainly can be guilty of having spiritual ones. Let me offer some examples that may ring a bell for you…
Has God ever limited you in something for a season; even if it wasn’t sin for others?
Or maybe you wanted something that was special to your heart and God didn’t grant that desire to you.
What about when God asks you to do something and immediately you look at someone else and say, “but what about them?”
Let’s take a look at John 21:18-22 together. Jesus had just finished asking Peter if he loved Him, and if by that love, he would care for the flock that Jesus would soon be (physically) leaving behind. Jesus says this to Peter:
18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, ... 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
Remember, this is the same Peter who had just denied Jesus, was then reestablished, and now he was being told he would die a similar death to the one Jesus had just resurrected from.
I have to wonder what Peter was thinking and feeling at that moment; was he filled with fear, confusion, curiosity, hope, confidence? To this, I don’t know. We do see, however, that Peter immediately turns from Jesus and responds with something like, “but what about this guy?” Then Jesus, in His perfection, chooses to rebuke and correct Peter’s focus. In a nutshell, Jesus responds by saying, “Don’t worry about him, these are my plans and purposes for you, you follow me.”
According to Blue Letter Bible, the word “follow” in the original Greek means to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, or side with his party. It also says, “to cleave steadfastly to one, conform wholly to his example, in living and if need be in dying also.”
So here’s the question I have been asking myself and now propose to you:
Are you willing to die to your wants, expectations, and misplaced concern for everyone else around you?
When God shares His plans, purposes, and commands with you, what is often your response? Do you humbly submit or try to take matters into your own hands? Do you embrace God’s plans and purposes or do you compare yourself to someone else? Do you remain in His love or run from His presence?
The Christian walk is difficult. It’s a daily choice to die to ourselves, draw motivation from the cross, and rely wholly upon God’s Spirit to help us live out who we are as a new creation in Christ.
Although this is a hard truth, I have come to see God’s sovereignty all over this passage. I see God’s grace in preparing Peter (and now us) for what’s ahead. I see Jesus’s loving correction to fix our eyes on Him and to trust in a purpose that is far beyond ourselves. I see so much hope and glory because of the truth that Jesus has conquered death, and for those that are in Him, He will be faithful to do the same. I see that although we are to pray, serve, encourage, and exhort our brethren, we are first to love God and follow Him with everything we are.
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“I have come to the conclusion that, instead of trying to set all my Master's servants right at once, my first and most important work is to follow my Lord; and I think, my brother, that it will be wise for you to come to the same conclusion.”
(Charles Spurgeon)