You must follow me

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22)

 

Jesus showed Himself after His resurrection to the seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples since the Resurrection. Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” and Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep” every time. He prophesied that alluded to Peter’s martyrdom and ordered him “You must follow me.” Then Peter pointed to the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus at the Supper, and he asked Jesus, “What about him?” And Jesus answered about that, “(Whatever it may be,) what is that to you? you must follow me.”

 

The resurrection of Jesus is completely unconvincing from a natural perspective. But according to the belief of salvation in God the Creator, it is never a strange or impossible event. Rather, it’s an event that should have happened. For without Jesus’ resurrection, the faith and salvation of Christ cannot be established. Jesus’ death of Crucifixion came in the presence of a large crowd. And the Resurrection turned out to be a real event. The high priest and the elders who killed Jesus gave money to the soldiers who were guarding the tomb, to cover up the truth when they received the report of Resurrection from them. However the truth cannot but be revealed, and lies can only be passed down as they are. Nobody can cover up what God has done.

Among the seven disciples was Thomas, called a disciple of doubt. But at that time before Jesus, he no longer doubted the truth of the Resurrection. Thomas the servant of Christ left behind his error and went before martyrdom as far as India to preach the gospel. He preached the gospel to the native of Calamina in Chennai of Southern India, and he was tortured and stabbed to death through pagan priest’s complaint. He dedicated his life to Jesus the Lord of Resurrection.

Peter the disciple, among the seven, must have come to the sea of Tiberias to fish, after Jesus’ Crucifixion. Like other disciples, Peter’s mind must have been complicated. Jesus the Teacher who had taught himself for three years was crucified, accordingly there must have been despair. However to his surprise, Jesus resurrected and came back before himself. Even so, his mind would not have changed completely yet. Then Jesus asked him the same question twice, “ἀγαπᾷς με; Do you love(Agape) me?” but Peter answered, “φιλῶ σε. I love(Philia) you.” every time. Jesus asked the third “φιλεῖς με; Do you love(Philia) me?” and Peter answered, “φιλῶ σε. I love(Philia) you.” just like the first two cases. The expectations of Jesus’ question and Peter’s response were different from each other. Nevertheless, Jesus told him that “Βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου. Feed my young lambs.” “Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου. Keep my sheep.” “Βόσκε τὰ πρόβατά μου. Feed my sheep.” Here we learn this, the Lord commands us to do the work as He wish even though lacking yet in ability for Christ’s gospel.

Peter, who had been convinced for the mission, remembered one question to Jesus. So he asked Jesus what would happen to John, the son of Zebedee. But Jesus did not give a definite answer to the question. And He only demanded that he be loyal to his mission. That means, “Don’t pay attention to other people’s future affairs, but obey the Lord only according to the mission given to yourself.” There “Feeding the sheep” refers to the mission given to Peter, and “Follow μοι ἀκολούθει.” refers to an attitude of behavior. Do not care what the Lord says to others or what he gives them. But you just have to do your best for what you’ve been given. Then the mission given to Peter was to guide the sheep of Jesus.

 

Everyone has a mission from God. Even if someone do not have sufficient ability and qualifications, the mission is given according to God’s will. And God trains him to be properly qualified for doing it. The ultimate mission of man is to live with Jesus the Holy Spirit. By following Jesus, we can take the water and food of spiritual life. Don’t pay attention to what other people are like, but live by the Lord for what is given to yourself.

 

(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on Apr 12th 2020)