John 21:19-25
Goodbye John, Hello Jesus
We have been in John for almost 2 years. WE have come to see the Lord Jesus Christ in a most magnificent way. John more than the other writers has stressed the Deity of Jesus in incredible ways. John’s Gospel has been called the Book of 7 Signs, and each of the 7 miracles that John records Jesus performing stressed Jesus’ deity and power and some special aspect of His nature. What miracles was your favorite? The water into wine? Healing the royal official’s son? Healing the paralytic? Feeding the 5000? Walking on the water? Giving sight to the blind man? Raising Lazarus from the dead?
But John has shown us Jesus’ deity by the many times Jesus said, “I am”. I am is the name of God in the OT. Jesus said in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was born, I am”. Other times He wasn’t as direct but the Jews knew what He was saying, “I am the Light of the world” (8:12) and “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25).
But probably the most profound things John said about Jesus were in the first 18 verses of the book. These 18 verses are like a prologue to the whole Gospel and have been considered the most profound theological statements in all of human history. In those 1st 18 verses are powerful statements that make very clear that Jesus is far more than a man and nothing less than God. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh…” You almost stagger at the magnitude of those words. God who transcends all of creation and is not part of creation but is separate from it, entered His creation in the person of Jesus Christ, the Word of God who is God became flesh and made God known to all flesh!
You can really get to know someone over two years and I feel like we have had a relationship here with John. If I had to preach out of another book on occasion I felt like I was cheating on him. He’s that beloved disciple in Jesus’ inner 3, Jesus’ core group. He’s the one who went with Jesus when He was arrested and was at the cross when Jesus died and saw the empty tomb and was the first to believe Jesus was alive. He was the One who leaned back on Jesus at the Last Supper and asked who would betray Him. John had a temper. Of all that Christ taught it was the great love teachings that we get from John. If you want to know what love – true love is – read John’s Gospel and John’s epistle’s in the back of the NT.
I sat back this last week and thought to myself, “Where do we go from John?” (Joke: “I decided we should start over and go through the whole book again!”)
I think the question should be put in front of all of us, “Where are you going to go from John?” What are you going to take away? But, where are you going to go? I’m not talking about what book are you going to read next, or, what book I’m going to preach from next. I’m talking about in your Christian walk. You can’t walk away from spending two years with someone and not take something with you. What is your “carry out” from John’s Gospel?
My hope is simply this: That you will walk away from John with Jesus Christ. I hope you go from John to go on with Jesus. John doesn’t want you to stay with him. He actually just wanted to be the liaison between you and Christ and introduce you to Him so that you meet Him and leave John and go on with Christ.
John wants this because that’s what he did. He said in chapter 1 that he was following another John around, John the Baptist. John the Apostle left following John the Baptist and went to follow Jesus. It says in 1:35-39, “……………..”
If you want to see what you should do, you should look at that right there. John left John the Baptist to begin following Jesus Christ for the rest of his life. You and I should leave John’s Gospel and follow Jesus now for the rest of our lives. And that is exactly what these last 6 verses talk about – following Jesus. What a way to end the Gospel.
What does follow Jesus mean? The word “Follow” is a Greek word “akoloutheo”, and it appears 78 times in the Gospels. It means to go in the same way as another, or, to be in union with someone, or, to be devoted to the teachings of a leader. The Jewish Rabbi’s had disciples who followed them around everywhere (physically going in the same way and in “union” with), and they were devoted to the teachings of their Rabbi.
Now to be devoted to those teachings meant more than just being aware of what the Rabbi said. For instance, sometimes we use the word “follow” to refer to watching. I follow the Detroit Tigers. Or we say, “Have you been following that news story…” What we mean is have we been watching. We’re not participants, we’re not involved with the situation, we’re keeping track of what’s going on like interested spectators.
There are a lot of Christians who are just “keeping track” what is going on with Jesus. We’ve heard lots of passages and maybe even have a few verses memorized, but, what Jesus said is not the compass for our living. The power of His words do not shape our hearts affections. Our appetites and our tempers and our priorities are never subdued by His words. But we come to church, we own a Bible, we listen to sermons, we do all this.
But that is not the meaning of follow in the Bible. The Bible never uses “follow” to say “watch” and “keep track”. Follow means to keep track of the teachings of Jesus so as to be devoted to those teachings which means to put what Jesus said into practice in your life. Don’t be a spectator, don’t be a fan, be a disciple. Follow Jesus by living how He taught.
We saw forgiveness from Jesus in chapter 20:29-30, then fellowship with Jesus in chapter 21:12-13), and now we see following Jesus in the very last words of the whole book. When you are forgiven you enter into fellowship and start following the risen Lord Christ. The last thought John wants to leave us with is “Follow Jesus”. We might even say that when it is evident that we are following Jesus it is evident that we have fellowship with Him and that we have been forgiven by Him.
So today I just want to look at 3 points about following Jesus that John leaves us with in this last passage: 1) Stay Concentrated, 2) Study Carefully, and 3) Speak Courageously.
Stay Concentrated (v20-22)
The first point in following Jesus is: Stay Concentrated. Verses 20-22 say, “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’). When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return what is that to you? You must follow me.’”
It appears that Jesus had taken Peter aside after breakfast and was walking away from the others to talk to him privately. Maybe they walked along the shore with the lake on their left and the sun coming up on their right. Now, in verse 19 Jesus had just said to Peter, “Follow me.” And right after that Peter turns around and he sees John, who apparently had been following them.
Why did Peter ask about John? Jesus had just told Peter about his future death. Maybe Peter wanted to know how John’s life was going to turn out. If this is how I have to go, well, what about him? Or maybe Peter was concerned about his friend and wanted to know if was going to suffer martyrdom as well.
Regardless of why, “follow me” is a command Jesus gave to Peter. Peter was to follow the instructions Jesus had given him 1) to feed and care for the flock, and 2) be faithful unto death. Do what I say Peter. That is following Jesus. Peter was not to lose focus and be distracted with what was going on with others. “Mind your own business “ is essentially what Jesus told him. “Focus on the business I have given you. Follow me.”
Here’s an application for us: When we focus on others we lose sight of Jesus. When we focus on what others are doing we lose sight of what Jesus is doing in our lives.
Do you find yourself dwelling on what’s going on with others too much? Is it because you envy them? Is it because you are angry at them? Is it because you idolize them? Is it because they have things you want and you’re discontent because you don’t have them? Jesus talks about distractions often. He said that worrying about your needs is a distraction from following Him in Matthew 6. He said in Luke 8 that life’s worries, riches and pleasures all distract from following Him. He said that a selfish life gets in the way of following Him, “If anyone would follow Me he must deny Himself, take up His cross, and then He can follow me.” A prideful, self-focused person who lives in worry and pursues the pleasures of life is not following Jesus. Only a humble heart, a servants heart, a Christ-focused heart that trusts in the Lord is one that follows Jesus.
That is the only kind of heart that can stay concentrated on following Jesus.
Study Carefully (v23)
The second point in following Jesus is: Study Carefully. Verse 23 says, “Because of this [v22], the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’”
The brothers didn’t study what Jesus said very carefully, and, as a result, a mistake in their beliefs arose. They thought John was going to live all the way until Jesus returned. But John says that that is not what Jesus said. The important word here in verse 22 and 23 is “If”. Jesus says to Peter, “IF I want John to remain alive what is that to you?” Jesus was not saying John would live that long, He was supposing it. He was using hyperbole – like when Annie says, “It feels like I’ve been married to you for a million years!” Hyperbole is using very exaggerated language to make a point. Jesus was using hyperbole with Peter. It was like Jesus was saying, “Suppose Peter I wanted John to live all the way until I returned while you and everyone else are going to die – what does it have to do with anything about your responsibility to feed the flock and be faithful to me even in your future martyrdom?”
It is so important that we listen and study carefully the words of God. A great role model for us is the Berean Christians in Acts 17:11, who studied carefully the Word of God to test what they heard. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, and who correctly handles the Word of truth.”
If we don’t do that we become vulnerable. We become vulnerable to laziness, like when people say, “Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Bible that ….” Go study carefully and find out. Most of the time people don’t want to find out they’re just looking for affirmation in their unbiblical attitudes. Don’t be lazy with the Word.
But also, we become vulnerable to believing anything anyone tells us about the Bible. Listen, Satan uses the Bible to trick people. He used the Word of God against Adam and Eve. He tried to use the Word of God against Jesus in Matthew 4. The NT warns of people who will come –not just into society but into the Church who will bring doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1), who will secretly introduce destructive heresies (Jude 4), and will be servants of Satan masquerading as teachers of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15). How do we have any hope of recognizing them if we remain ignorant of the wisdom of God’s Word?
Speak Courageously (v24-25)
The third point in following Jesus is: Speak Courageously. Look at verses 24-25, “…………………..”
I would just say this: Speak of what you know. John testifies to the things he knows. People are often scared to witness either because they are afraid of rejection or they are afraid they won’t know what to say.
But, tell people what you know. Do you know Jesus has saved you from your sins by dying on the cross and being resurrected from the dead? Do you believe He is the only way you personally have any hope of going to heaven? Do you believe you can work your way there without Him? No? Then good, guess what, you have something to say and you have to see yourself as someone with something to say about Jesus.
Listen, while we remain silent, there are many in this culture who are making all sorts of claims about Jesus that are not true. Jesus became a god. Jesus is equal with Mary. Jesus achieved Christ-consciousness. Jesus didn’t rise from the dead. Jesus never died on the cross. Jesus didn’t exist.
There are lots of false witnesses spreading lies about Jesus. Will we keep quiet with the truth we know about Him? His eye is upon the Church as He is listening to the lies being told about Him in the world and will the Church not proclaim with all her voice that He is the Christ, the Son of God and that it is by Him and Him alone that one may have life? Life is in Him and only in Him, the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, life-giving, holy, Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us only to become the sacrifice for sins on the cross and come up from the dead alive forever so that anyone who believes in Him would also have life forever? As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you!” His ear waits to hear His Bride, the Church, make known His name.
And remember, John only scratched the surface of what Jesus did and said, verse 25 says, “…...” The point here is that John knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the Son of God. He knew the evidence was overwhelming. We can be confident that Jesus is all that He claimed to be and therefore we can speak courageously to people knowing with confidence that He is the risen Son of God.
Conclusion:
How does this Gospel end? You might say “well it ends right here with Jesus’ conversation with Peter”. No, that’s not the end. The end is up to you. The most important verse in the whole Gospel is in 20:31, “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and, that by believing you may have life in His name.” This Gospel would not be complete if you did not respond to it by believing in Jesus and starting a life of following Him.
You may be here today and have never made the decision to follow Him. Maybe you’ve followed yourself all your life and called all the shots and been in charge of you. But the only way to go to heaven is if you follow the One who can lead you there. Jesus said in 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one goes to the Father except through Me.” Have you believed on the One who is the truth? Have you received the One who is Life? And have you followed the One who is the Way? End John’s Gospel the right way. End it by beginning with Jesus Christ. That would be the best ending to this Gospel.
Goodbye John, Hello Jesus
We have been in John for almost 2 years. WE have come to see the Lord Jesus Christ in a most magnificent way. John more than the other writers has stressed the Deity of Jesus in incredible ways. John’s Gospel has been called the Book of 7 Signs, and each of the 7 miracles that John records Jesus performing stressed Jesus’ deity and power and some special aspect of His nature. What miracles was your favorite? The water into wine? Healing the royal official’s son? Healing the paralytic? Feeding the 5000? Walking on the water? Giving sight to the blind man? Raising Lazarus from the dead?
But John has shown us Jesus’ deity by the many times Jesus said, “I am”. I am is the name of God in the OT. Jesus said in John 8:58, “Before Abraham was born, I am”. Other times He wasn’t as direct but the Jews knew what He was saying, “I am the Light of the world” (8:12) and “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25).
But probably the most profound things John said about Jesus were in the first 18 verses of the book. These 18 verses are like a prologue to the whole Gospel and have been considered the most profound theological statements in all of human history. In those 1st 18 verses are powerful statements that make very clear that Jesus is far more than a man and nothing less than God. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh…” You almost stagger at the magnitude of those words. God who transcends all of creation and is not part of creation but is separate from it, entered His creation in the person of Jesus Christ, the Word of God who is God became flesh and made God known to all flesh!
You can really get to know someone over two years and I feel like we have had a relationship here with John. If I had to preach out of another book on occasion I felt like I was cheating on him. He’s that beloved disciple in Jesus’ inner 3, Jesus’ core group. He’s the one who went with Jesus when He was arrested and was at the cross when Jesus died and saw the empty tomb and was the first to believe Jesus was alive. He was the One who leaned back on Jesus at the Last Supper and asked who would betray Him. John had a temper. Of all that Christ taught it was the great love teachings that we get from John. If you want to know what love – true love is – read John’s Gospel and John’s epistle’s in the back of the NT.
I sat back this last week and thought to myself, “Where do we go from John?” (Joke: “I decided we should start over and go through the whole book again!”)
I think the question should be put in front of all of us, “Where are you going to go from John?” What are you going to take away? But, where are you going to go? I’m not talking about what book are you going to read next, or, what book I’m going to preach from next. I’m talking about in your Christian walk. You can’t walk away from spending two years with someone and not take something with you. What is your “carry out” from John’s Gospel?
My hope is simply this: That you will walk away from John with Jesus Christ. I hope you go from John to go on with Jesus. John doesn’t want you to stay with him. He actually just wanted to be the liaison between you and Christ and introduce you to Him so that you meet Him and leave John and go on with Christ.
John wants this because that’s what he did. He said in chapter 1 that he was following another John around, John the Baptist. John the Apostle left following John the Baptist and went to follow Jesus. It says in 1:35-39, “……………..”
If you want to see what you should do, you should look at that right there. John left John the Baptist to begin following Jesus Christ for the rest of his life. You and I should leave John’s Gospel and follow Jesus now for the rest of our lives. And that is exactly what these last 6 verses talk about – following Jesus. What a way to end the Gospel.
What does follow Jesus mean? The word “Follow” is a Greek word “akoloutheo”, and it appears 78 times in the Gospels. It means to go in the same way as another, or, to be in union with someone, or, to be devoted to the teachings of a leader. The Jewish Rabbi’s had disciples who followed them around everywhere (physically going in the same way and in “union” with), and they were devoted to the teachings of their Rabbi.
Now to be devoted to those teachings meant more than just being aware of what the Rabbi said. For instance, sometimes we use the word “follow” to refer to watching. I follow the Detroit Tigers. Or we say, “Have you been following that news story…” What we mean is have we been watching. We’re not participants, we’re not involved with the situation, we’re keeping track of what’s going on like interested spectators.
There are a lot of Christians who are just “keeping track” what is going on with Jesus. We’ve heard lots of passages and maybe even have a few verses memorized, but, what Jesus said is not the compass for our living. The power of His words do not shape our hearts affections. Our appetites and our tempers and our priorities are never subdued by His words. But we come to church, we own a Bible, we listen to sermons, we do all this.
But that is not the meaning of follow in the Bible. The Bible never uses “follow” to say “watch” and “keep track”. Follow means to keep track of the teachings of Jesus so as to be devoted to those teachings which means to put what Jesus said into practice in your life. Don’t be a spectator, don’t be a fan, be a disciple. Follow Jesus by living how He taught.
We saw forgiveness from Jesus in chapter 20:29-30, then fellowship with Jesus in chapter 21:12-13), and now we see following Jesus in the very last words of the whole book. When you are forgiven you enter into fellowship and start following the risen Lord Christ. The last thought John wants to leave us with is “Follow Jesus”. We might even say that when it is evident that we are following Jesus it is evident that we have fellowship with Him and that we have been forgiven by Him.
So today I just want to look at 3 points about following Jesus that John leaves us with in this last passage: 1) Stay Concentrated, 2) Study Carefully, and 3) Speak Courageously.
Stay Concentrated (v20-22)
The first point in following Jesus is: Stay Concentrated. Verses 20-22 say, “Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’). When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return what is that to you? You must follow me.’”
It appears that Jesus had taken Peter aside after breakfast and was walking away from the others to talk to him privately. Maybe they walked along the shore with the lake on their left and the sun coming up on their right. Now, in verse 19 Jesus had just said to Peter, “Follow me.” And right after that Peter turns around and he sees John, who apparently had been following them.
Why did Peter ask about John? Jesus had just told Peter about his future death. Maybe Peter wanted to know how John’s life was going to turn out. If this is how I have to go, well, what about him? Or maybe Peter was concerned about his friend and wanted to know if was going to suffer martyrdom as well.
Regardless of why, “follow me” is a command Jesus gave to Peter. Peter was to follow the instructions Jesus had given him 1) to feed and care for the flock, and 2) be faithful unto death. Do what I say Peter. That is following Jesus. Peter was not to lose focus and be distracted with what was going on with others. “Mind your own business “ is essentially what Jesus told him. “Focus on the business I have given you. Follow me.”
Here’s an application for us: When we focus on others we lose sight of Jesus. When we focus on what others are doing we lose sight of what Jesus is doing in our lives.
Do you find yourself dwelling on what’s going on with others too much? Is it because you envy them? Is it because you are angry at them? Is it because you idolize them? Is it because they have things you want and you’re discontent because you don’t have them? Jesus talks about distractions often. He said that worrying about your needs is a distraction from following Him in Matthew 6. He said in Luke 8 that life’s worries, riches and pleasures all distract from following Him. He said that a selfish life gets in the way of following Him, “If anyone would follow Me he must deny Himself, take up His cross, and then He can follow me.” A prideful, self-focused person who lives in worry and pursues the pleasures of life is not following Jesus. Only a humble heart, a servants heart, a Christ-focused heart that trusts in the Lord is one that follows Jesus.
That is the only kind of heart that can stay concentrated on following Jesus.
Study Carefully (v23)
The second point in following Jesus is: Study Carefully. Verse 23 says, “Because of this [v22], the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’”
The brothers didn’t study what Jesus said very carefully, and, as a result, a mistake in their beliefs arose. They thought John was going to live all the way until Jesus returned. But John says that that is not what Jesus said. The important word here in verse 22 and 23 is “If”. Jesus says to Peter, “IF I want John to remain alive what is that to you?” Jesus was not saying John would live that long, He was supposing it. He was using hyperbole – like when Annie says, “It feels like I’ve been married to you for a million years!” Hyperbole is using very exaggerated language to make a point. Jesus was using hyperbole with Peter. It was like Jesus was saying, “Suppose Peter I wanted John to live all the way until I returned while you and everyone else are going to die – what does it have to do with anything about your responsibility to feed the flock and be faithful to me even in your future martyrdom?”
It is so important that we listen and study carefully the words of God. A great role model for us is the Berean Christians in Acts 17:11, who studied carefully the Word of God to test what they heard. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, and who correctly handles the Word of truth.”
If we don’t do that we become vulnerable. We become vulnerable to laziness, like when people say, “Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Bible that ….” Go study carefully and find out. Most of the time people don’t want to find out they’re just looking for affirmation in their unbiblical attitudes. Don’t be lazy with the Word.
But also, we become vulnerable to believing anything anyone tells us about the Bible. Listen, Satan uses the Bible to trick people. He used the Word of God against Adam and Eve. He tried to use the Word of God against Jesus in Matthew 4. The NT warns of people who will come –not just into society but into the Church who will bring doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1), who will secretly introduce destructive heresies (Jude 4), and will be servants of Satan masquerading as teachers of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15). How do we have any hope of recognizing them if we remain ignorant of the wisdom of God’s Word?
Speak Courageously (v24-25)
The third point in following Jesus is: Speak Courageously. Look at verses 24-25, “…………………..”
I would just say this: Speak of what you know. John testifies to the things he knows. People are often scared to witness either because they are afraid of rejection or they are afraid they won’t know what to say.
But, tell people what you know. Do you know Jesus has saved you from your sins by dying on the cross and being resurrected from the dead? Do you believe He is the only way you personally have any hope of going to heaven? Do you believe you can work your way there without Him? No? Then good, guess what, you have something to say and you have to see yourself as someone with something to say about Jesus.
Listen, while we remain silent, there are many in this culture who are making all sorts of claims about Jesus that are not true. Jesus became a god. Jesus is equal with Mary. Jesus achieved Christ-consciousness. Jesus didn’t rise from the dead. Jesus never died on the cross. Jesus didn’t exist.
There are lots of false witnesses spreading lies about Jesus. Will we keep quiet with the truth we know about Him? His eye is upon the Church as He is listening to the lies being told about Him in the world and will the Church not proclaim with all her voice that He is the Christ, the Son of God and that it is by Him and Him alone that one may have life? Life is in Him and only in Him, the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, life-giving, holy, Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us only to become the sacrifice for sins on the cross and come up from the dead alive forever so that anyone who believes in Him would also have life forever? As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you!” His ear waits to hear His Bride, the Church, make known His name.
And remember, John only scratched the surface of what Jesus did and said, verse 25 says, “…...” The point here is that John knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the Son of God. He knew the evidence was overwhelming. We can be confident that Jesus is all that He claimed to be and therefore we can speak courageously to people knowing with confidence that He is the risen Son of God.
Conclusion:
How does this Gospel end? You might say “well it ends right here with Jesus’ conversation with Peter”. No, that’s not the end. The end is up to you. The most important verse in the whole Gospel is in 20:31, “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and, that by believing you may have life in His name.” This Gospel would not be complete if you did not respond to it by believing in Jesus and starting a life of following Him.
You may be here today and have never made the decision to follow Him. Maybe you’ve followed yourself all your life and called all the shots and been in charge of you. But the only way to go to heaven is if you follow the One who can lead you there. Jesus said in 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one goes to the Father except through Me.” Have you believed on the One who is the truth? Have you received the One who is Life? And have you followed the One who is the Way? End John’s Gospel the right way. End it by beginning with Jesus Christ. That would be the best ending to this Gospel.
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