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By the Sea Once More
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Christ Tells How Peter Will Die
Before His death, Jesus had said to Peter, “Whither I go, thou
canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.” To
this Peter had replied, “Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? I will
lay down my life for Thy sake.”
John 13:36, 37
. He failed when the
test came, but again he was to have opportunity to prove his love
for Christ. That he might be strengthened for the final test of his
faith, the Saviour opened to him his future. After a life of usefulness,
when age was telling on his strength, he would indeed follow his
Lord. Jesus said, “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 thus foretold the stretching forth of Peter’s hands on the
cross. Again He bade His disciple, “Follow Me.” Peter was not
disheartened by the revelation. He felt willing to suffer any death
for his Lord.
Heretofore Peter had loved Christ as a man; he now loved Him
[543]
as God. Now he was prepared to share in his Lord’s mission of
sacrifice. When at last brought to the cross, at his own request he
was crucified with his head downward. He thought it too great an
honor to suffer in the same way as his Master did.
Hitherto Peter had tried to plan for the work of God instead of
waiting to follow out God’s plan. But Jesus bade him, “Follow Me.”
Do not run ahead of Me. Let Me go before you, and you will not be
overcome by the enemy.
As Peter walked beside Jesus, he saw that John was following.
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. In saying of John, “If I will that he tarry
till I come,” Jesus gave no assurance that this disciple should live
until the Lord’s second coming; but even if He should will this to be
so, it would in no way affect Peter’s work. Obedience was the duty
required of each.