Don’t Be Distracted – Just Follow Me

John 21:19

New International Version

Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

For Encouragement

Bravado, denial, disillusionment, fallback to old ways, failure, and disappointment—Simon Peter knew this road well and traveled it for gold medal. However, that was not his lot in life. Jesus had much more for the man He had prepared to lead His church. So, in the early morning in one of His post-resurrection appearances on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus met him and his friends, disappointed and wallowing in failure after a futile all-night fishing trip. Jesus refreshed them over broiled fish and bread for breakfast, after which He restored Peter. The way He did it must have brought into sharp focus Peter’s personal weaknesses, and conveyed to him his need for divine enablement to succeed in his assigned responsibilities.

The Lord’s repeated question to Simon was penetrating. “Simon, son of John. Do you love me?” (John 21:15, 16, 17).

Peter’s first two responses were sincere but not convincing (15, 16). Guilt can weaken a man’s confidence, but thank God He knows the integrity of our hearts.

In each response, Christ gave Peter a charge and mandate. For the third time, Jesus repeated His question, “Do you love me?” He had been with the Lord for three years, so he understood the Lord’s repeated question. They revealed his vulnerability despite his gallantry, and that hurt him. It is painful when someone says something that highlights our weakness.

Peter surrendered his weakness to Jesus.

Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.

How else could he express it, and isn’t that what the Lord expects from us—to surrender our weaknesses to Him? (2 Corinthians 12:9).

“Jesus said, Feed my sheep.”

Peter has his commission now and is almost rejoicing in his heart, but there is more for him. Jesus told him the way he would die, not a pretty way to die, but reminiscent of how He, Jesus, died. Then He added a command:

“Follow me!” (19).

This command has loads of reminders and hope. Jesus was telling Peter:

“I have tread victoriously on the path I am calling you to journey with me. I know the pain and suffering that would challenge you, but I know how to conquer them and move you to higher grounds, and I will see you through. Please don’t go ahead of me and don’t retreat in cowardice again. Just follow me. But I also know your tendency towards distraction as on the sea-walk with me (Matthew 14:28-31). Your show of bravado in Gethsemane was also a showoff and unnecessary, as I told you (John 18:10-11). This call is serious business, so don’t blow it, Peter. Follow me!

With a pounding heart, Peter follows the Lord for a beach stroll. He hears some familiar footsteps behind them. It is John following them, and in sheer curiosity asks,

Lord, what about him?

Oh, Peter! Peter!

Did you hear the Lord a few minutes ago warning about distractions? But we are so much like Peter. We concern ourselves more with other people’s matters than our own, which are screaming for attention. As the Lord said, leave that to me, Peter. It’s not your concern.

His message today as His disciples is: Don’t get entrapped by distractions. Just follow me with your eyes fastened on me, for I am the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith, and you will ride with me into victory .

Shalom

Oh, For Focused Minds

John 21:20

New King James Version

Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

For Encouragement

The command was simple: “Follow me!” However, it became a complicated issue for Peter (John 21:19-22).

If there was any lesson for the disciples that night, it was that there is nothing in our past life to satisfy us when the Savior calls us away from it (Luke 9:62; Hebrews 11:15).

The disciples were experienced on the sea, but they caught nothing that night (John 21:3) because they were not supposed to be there. The Lord had called them away from the sea and redirected them to become fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). However, uncertain times can make us fickle and gullible. Any suggestion with an aroma of profit appeals to our interest. So, they went, and what a disappointment that was!

The meal was over, and the Lord moved on to the principal item on the agenda—the reinstitution of Brother Peter. With his head bowed with guilt, he could not lead the men into the Great Commission ahead. Deflated and guilt-ridden people cannot make good leaders, so our gracious Lord gave him strength to take charge of the work of the kingdom. Now, he felt light and himself again. But how soon do we forget what took us into the valley?

With delight, Peter locked his strides with the Lord in the morning breeze. And how refreshing that must have been.

So, remember, Peter! Do not forget your walk on the sea (Matthew 14:28-31). Remember the fatal mistake that almost drowned you? Do not take your eyes from the Lord this time, Peter! 

O, but that is precisely what Simon, son of John, did.

“Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following” (20)

Jesus had told him how he, Peter, would die. Now, seeing John following them, he shifted his attention to how John would also die, taking the focus from Jesus, His walking Partner. How human!

That is our nemesis, folks! The shifting focus! Call it distraction, doubt, interference, or whatever you may; it still refers to our primary source of failure to obey the Lord.

We tire of focusing on Christ because of the surrounding attractions, concerns about others, and the fear of current world events and the future. If we could only follow Him like soldiers on the battlefront who know the risk of unfocused attention due to other concerns.

The concern for other people and events surrounding us belongs to the Lord, not us (John 21:22). Let us, therefore, leave them to Jesus and follow Him with single-minded devotion and unwavering focus on His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).