Thoughts on the Gospel of John (219) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, Follow Me.
John 21:18–19

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (219)
Even before Peter denied the Lord, the Lord had said to him: “When you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:32). Peter turned back, weeping bitterly and deeply repentant at what he had done. The Lord forgave him and gave him a new task: to feed and shepherd His flock.

Now follows an important prophecy for Peter, introduced with a “most assuredly”. Here the Lord first presents Peter as we know him from the accounts in the Gospels: proactive, strong-willed and energetic. Don’t we also have to admit that we have sometimes gone our own way, even though we have already counted ourselves among Jesus’ disciples? Perhaps we too have had to experience miserable failure.

“I will lay down my life for Your sake” was Peter’s sincere assertion. Here the Lord comes back to that. Peter’s claim would come to pass in old age – a time when a person has to “stretch out” his hands because he cannot walk alone and is dependent on being actively supported by others.

Peter would glorify God through his martyrdom. But it would be a difficult path that he himself would never have chosen: Peter would even die on the cross. Most of Jesus’ disciples are spared that. But everyone is responsible to follow their Lord consistently.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today’s reading: Zechariah 8:1-23 · Mark 14:1-11