Jesus Reminds-Follow Me
And so Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” Jesus commanded, “Feed My sheep. “ And then Jesus reminds Peter to follow Him.
Early in Jesus' ministry, He'd said the same words to Peter. “Come and follow Me and I’ll send you out to fish for people.” (Mark 1:17) Here in John 21, He says it again, right at the end. He says, “Follow Me.”
Grace After Failure
After all the disappointments, the denials, all the shame and sin that Peter must have been holding in his heart, Jesus repeats His first command to Peter: “Come and follow Me.”
He didn't deserve it. He'd messed up. He deserted Jesus at the worst possible time, but Jesus forgave him and sent him out again.
Now remember, Jesus was going back to Heaven soon, so this time Peter couldn't physically follow Him, but he could follow His example. He could imitate Jesus in every way he could. He could follow in His footsteps and live the life Jesus lived. That's exactly what he did.
A Call to Follow
Here's the wonderful thing about grace, friends. It's that even if you've strayed, Jesus repeats the command to you and He says, “Come and follow Me.” Maybe you answered that call years ago, but you've backslidden, you've drifted. Now you're wondering if God will even want you back on His side.
Well, Jesus repeated that command to Peter because He loved Peter and gave him a second chance. Will you take your second chance? Maybe it's your third or fourth or fifth or tenth chance. But God says, “Follow Me again. Follow Me again. No matter how far you've run. Follow Me again.”
Changed Lives Through You
Maybe today's your day to start over. Maybe you've just not been doing it like you should. Start again. Follow Him again.
Maybe you have been following faithfully. Well, I'm so glad. And hear Jesus again saying, “Keep following Me, keep following Me. This is the way to live.”
So whatever it is you're doing today and in the days to come, friends, follow Jesus. Walk like Him, talk like Him, love like Him. Follow His example.
Just like many lives were changed through the ministry of Peter, I believe many lives can be changed through your ministry if you follow Jesus.
