Jesus at Galilee
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the other disciples. It taught them to deal with the transgressor with
patience, sympathy, and forgiving love. During the time in which
Peter denied his Lord, the love which Jesus bore him never faltered.
Just such love should the under-shepherd feel for the sheep and lambs
committed to his care. Remembering his own weakness and failure,
Peter was to deal with his flock as tenderly as Christ had dealt with
him.
Jesus walked alone with Peter, for there was something which he
wished to communicate to him only. In that memorable upper chamber,
previous to his death, Jesus had said to his disciple, “Whither I go
thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards;”
Peter had replied to this: “Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will
lay down my life for thy sake.” Jesus now, in sympathy for him, and
that he might be strengthened for the final test of his faith in Christ,
opened before him his future. He told him that after living a life of
usefulness, when age was telling upon his strength, he should indeed
follow his Lord. Said Jesus, “When thou wast young, thou girdedst
thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but when thou shalt be
old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and
carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by
what death he should glorify God.”
Jesus here explicitly stated to Peter the fact and manner of his
death; he even referred to the stretching forth of his hands upon the
cross; and after he had thus spoken he repeated his former injunction:
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“Follow me.” The disciple was not disconcerted by the revelation of
his Master. He felt willing to suffer any death for his Lord. Peter
saw that John was following, and a desire came over him to know his
future, and he “saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus
saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
follow thou me.” Peter should have considered that his Lord would
reveal to him all that it was best for him to know, without inquiry on
his part. It is the duty of every one to follow Christ, without undue
anxiety as to the duty assigned to others. In saying of John, “If I will
that he tarry till I come,” Jesus gave no assurance that this disciple
should live until the second coming of Christ; he merely asserted his
own supreme power, and that even if he should will this to be so, it
would in no way affect the work of Peter. The future of both John and