Joh 21:20-22 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord reminds Peter of what he used to be led by. It refers to the time when he was younger, the period actually up to now. Then he girded himself, that is, he acted in his own strength and set to work. That led him to wrong statements and actions and on wrong paths. However, there will come a time when he will stretch out his hands to let them be guided and governed by the power of the Holy Spirit. If he thus gives his life into the hand of the Spirit, he will be brought to a place to which he does not want to go as far as his old nature is concerned. Then he will be led by the Spirit to death, and with his death he will glorify God. Everything that the Holy Spirit does is for the glorification of God. This was made perfectly evident in the life of the Lord Jesus, and it is also true in the life of every believer who lets himself be led by the Spirit. We can only entrust ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit if we have learned to surrender our own will. Where the Holy Spirit is in charge, the Lord calls us to follow Him. It points out that we must watch the Lord Jesus closely to see which way He is going. The Lord now tells Peter to follow Him, something that was not possible before ( ). Peter is also given the opportunity to follow Him in a better way than he did before, which led him to deny the Lord. He then followed Him “at a distance” ( ). Now he may follow close behind Him. Yet Peter’s eye is not yet focused continuously on the Lord. He turns around and sees John. Not that John’s name is mentioned, but the description of the person Peter sees makes it clear that it is John. John describes himself in various ways. Here he again calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, which speaks of his deep awareness of the love the Lord has for him. John also knows the place of intimacy, of being close to Him, which we see in leaning back to His bosom, the place of His heart. He has a confidential relationship with the Lord, which allows him to ask Him questions for himself, as well as for others. This is a wonderful description of the special relationship John has with the Lord Jesus. John kept these characteristics until the end of his life. Peter is curious to know what will happen to John, and he asks what the Lord has in mind for John. The Lord’s answer makes two things clear. First, that He has a relationship of His own with John. He told Peter about the death with which he would glorify God. For John, He has a different future in mind. Second, that Peter has nothing to do with the Lord’s plans for another, but that he himself must follow Him so that He can carry out His plan with him. Likewise, now each servant has his own relationship with his Lord that another has nothing to do with. What the Lord says about John has a deeper, spiritual meaning. It does not mean that John will continue to live until the coming of the Lord. It is not an allusion to the duration of John’s life , but to the duration of his ministry . John did not personally remain until the coming of the Lord, but he did remain in his ministry. He fulfills that ministry by writing the book of Revelation in which he experiences in the spirit the coming of Christ to earth ( ). What the Lord has said is misunderstood by the brethren and therefore this misunderstanding is passed on. This is because they are not listening properly. It teaches us that it is important to listen carefully first and check that we have understood what we heard correctly before passing on anything.

‏ John 21:20-22

You Follow Me

The Lord reminds Peter of what he used to be led by. It refers to the time when he was younger, the period actually up to now. Then he girded himself, that is, he acted in his own strength and set to work. That led him to wrong statements and actions and on wrong paths. However, there will come a time when he will stretch out his hands to let them be guided and governed by the power of the Holy Spirit. If he thus gives his life into the hand of the Spirit, he will be brought to a place to which he does not want to go as far as his old nature is concerned. Then he will be led by the Spirit to death, and with his death he will glorify God.

Everything that the Holy Spirit does is for the glorification of God. This was made perfectly evident in the life of the Lord Jesus, and it is also true in the life of every believer who lets himself be led by the Spirit. We can only entrust ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit if we have learned to surrender our own will. Where the Holy Spirit is in charge, the Lord calls us to follow Him. It points out that we must watch the Lord Jesus closely to see which way He is going.

The Lord now tells Peter to follow Him, something that was not possible before (Jn 13:36-37). Peter is also given the opportunity to follow Him in a better way than he did before, which led him to deny the Lord. He then followed Him “at a distance” (Lk 22:54). Now he may follow close behind Him.

Yet Peter’s eye is not yet focused continuously on the Lord. He turns around and sees John. Not that John’s name is mentioned, but the description of the person Peter sees makes it clear that it is John. John describes himself in various ways. Here he again calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, which speaks of his deep awareness of the love the Lord has for him.

John also knows the place of intimacy, of being close to Him, which we see in leaning back to His bosom, the place of His heart. He has a confidential relationship with the Lord, which allows him to ask Him questions for himself, as well as for others. This is a wonderful description of the special relationship John has with the Lord Jesus. John kept these characteristics until the end of his life.

Peter is curious to know what will happen to John, and he asks what the Lord has in mind for John. The Lord’s answer makes two things clear. First, that He has a relationship of His own with John. He told Peter about the death with which he would glorify God. For John, He has a different future in mind. Second, that Peter has nothing to do with the Lord’s plans for another, but that he himself must follow Him so that He can carry out His plan with him. Likewise, now each servant has his own relationship with his Lord that another has nothing to do with.

What the Lord says about John has a deeper, spiritual meaning. It does not mean that John will continue to live until the coming of the Lord. It is not an allusion to the duration of John’s life, but to the duration of his ministry. John did not personally remain until the coming of the Lord, but he did remain in his ministry. He fulfills that ministry by writing the book of Revelation in which he experiences in the spirit the coming of Christ to earth (Rev 1:19 ; Rev 4:1).

What the Lord has said is misunderstood by the brethren and therefore this misunderstanding is passed on. This is because they are not listening properly. It teaches us that it is important to listen carefully first and check that we have understood what we heard correctly before passing on anything.