John 21 Devotional

John 21: 18 - 19 When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you'll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don't want to go." He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, "Follow me."

Have you ever failed at something? When you failed how did you react? Did you give up and never try again? Or, did you get up, dust yourself off, and learn from your mistakes? You know most people would say our response is determined by our personality. And, I would agree with them. However, sometimes our failures are so bad we are powerless to do anything when we are put in the same situation again, and in those cases it is the very fear of failure that robs us of our ability to learn from our mistakes and robs us of our courage to try again. When we are in this state, we psychologically become reluctant to try again because we are fearful we will be identified as a failure and see ourselves as worthless. So instead of risking failure we become cowards and run from our opportunity to succeed and overcome life’s challenges. The shame of feeling worthless due to our ineptitude to pass our tests can drive one to self hate and eventually to self destruction. This can become a viscous cycle that requires repentance and the grace of God to over come. The funny thing about our walk with God is that our relationship with Him does not exempt us from any test. As a matter of fact, because of our relationship with God we will be tested even more. This is the reality that Peter is facing at the end of the book of John. Is it not interesting that the last story in the book of John is not Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, nor is it His ascension into heaven; but it is Peter’s restoration from his sin of denying Jesus, and the vivid declaration of how he would die. That is not how I would have ended it, but then again I am not its author. Nevertheless, Jesus after uncovering Peter’s lack of true commitment to Him, in vs. 15 – 17 describes Peter’s future in a gloomy way. Jesus said, “When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you'll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don't want to go." He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, "Follow me." Jesus was actually telling Peter that he would be executed when he got older. Scholars believe that Peter was crucified the in same manner in which Jesus was. I think the point John makes is Peter’s true commitment level to Christ would be revealed by the test he would endure through out the course of his life. Remember, Peter had already failed his first test when he denied Christ three times. Do you want to know something ironic? Jesus even told him that he was going to deny him. Nevertheless, by God’s grace Peter had another chance to redeem himself. So, here at the end of the book of John, Jesus basically tells Peter he would face the same test he had previously failed but at the end of his life. [Whoa! Imagine looking forward to that] Hold up that is not the key of this scripture the key is what Jesus did not say to Peter this time that is encouraging. Yes, I know it is very scary that Jesus is telling Peter he is going to be executed. And, I agree it is hard to find encouragement here. But, what Jesus did not say this time was that Peter would deny Him. You see, somehow Peter was eventually able to learn the one lesson every believer of Christ has to learn in this life. We can not pass life’s test in our own strength. We can only pass them through the power of God. Therefore, now in the last chapter of John Peter is facing his life’s final examination. Peter was being tested once more to prove his love for his Savior. Fortunately, in God’s mercy, He restored Peter and gave him a second change. And, just like Peter when we fail, God can restore us and give us a second chance as well; however, we must understand even though we have to continually take the test, which many we will fail, they do get any easier; therefore, it is essentially we learn how to trust God. Eventually, Peter passed his test. He did not deny Christ; moreover, he even asked to be crucified upside down. What a change of heart! What was the difference in Peter? When Peter was older he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he had learned how to trust in God’s ability and not his own. Friend, you will be tested all your life, and you will fail some of them. The point is will you get up and take it again! Well, will you?
Three action steps:

Take the time to memorize John 21: 18 - 19
Do you like test? Why or why not?
What test in life have you failed in life? What test have you passed in life?