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By the Sea Once More
487
Christ Tells How Peter Will Die
Before His death, Jesus had said to Peter, “Where I am going
you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”
To this Peter had replied, “Lord, why can I not follow You now?
I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
John 13:36, 37
. He failed
when the test came, but again he was to have opportunity to prove
his love for Christ. So that he could be strengthened for the final
test of his faith, the Savior opened to him his future. After a life of
usefulness, when age was wearing out his strength, he would indeed
follow his Lord. Jesus said, “‘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.”
In this way Jesus foretold that Peter’s hands would be stretched
out on the cross. Again He invited His disciple, “Follow Me.” Peter
was not discouraged by the revelation. He felt willing to accept any
death for his Lord.
Up to now Peter had loved Christ as a man; he now loved Him
as God. Now he was prepared to share in his Lord’s mission of
sacrifice. When at last Peter was brought to the cross, at his own
request he was crucified with his head downward. He thought it was
too great an honor to suffer in the same way as his Master did.
Before this Peter had tried to plan for the work of God instead
of waiting to discover and follow God’s plan. But Jesus told him,
“Follow Me.” Do not run ahead of Me. Let Me go before you, and
then the enemy will not overcome you.
As Peter walked beside Jesus, he saw that John was following.
A desire came over him to know his future, and he “said to Jesus,
‘But Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If I will that
he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.’” Peter
should have considered that his Lord would reveal to him everything
that it was best for him to know. In saying about John, “If I will
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that he remain till I come,” Jesus gave no assurance that this disciple
would live until the Lord’s second coming. But even if He decided
that this would happen, it would not affect Peter’s work in any way.
Obedience was the duty that Jesus required of each.