Devotional Meditations: John 21:18-22

Some of my thoughts from my personal devotions in John 21.


In John 21, we find the well known account of the “Do you love me?” interaction between Jesus and Peter. After this exchange, Jesus speaks these words to Peter:

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."
 ²⁰Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" ²¹When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" ²²Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!" (John 21:18-22)

In John 21:18, Jesus makes a contrast between Peter’s current state of freedom and life, and his future state of bondage and persecution. John 21:19 is the apostle John’s divinely inspired commentary on Jesus’ words. John explains that Jesus was foretelling Peter’s imprisonment and execution, all for God’s glory. This prophecy must have been disheartening to Peter. Nevertheless, Jesus calls Peter to take up his cross and follow Him.

In John 21:21, Peter notices John and asks Jesus about John’s future. This is something that we all do so often when called to endure hardship for Christ’s sake – we compare our calling to that of others in an attempt to test God’s fairness. In doing this, we become so easily distracted from God’s calling on our own life. Jesus sternly rebuked Peter’s comparative attitude in John 21:22.

Instead of comparing our circumstances to the circumstances of others, we are commanded to count suffering for Christ as great joy! We are not to be most concerned with the God-ordained circumstances of others. Instead, we are to focus on the joy set before us, whether it be suffering or persecution or even death, with the purpose of glorifying God in all things.

BY HIS GRACE (1 Cor 15:10) – FOR HIS GLORY (1 Tim 1:17)