John 21:20

New King James Version

Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

For Encouragement

The command was simple: “Follow me!” However, it became a complicated issue for Peter (John 21:19-22).

If there was any lesson for the disciples that night, it was that there is nothing in our past life to satisfy us when the Savior calls us away from it (Luke 9:62; Hebrews 11:15).

The disciples were experienced on the sea, but they caught nothing that night (John 21:3) because they were not supposed to be there. The Lord had called them away from the sea and redirected them to become fishers of men (Matthew 4:19). However, uncertain times can make us fickle and gullible. Any suggestion with an aroma of profit appeals to our interest. So, they went, and what a disappointment that was!

The meal was over, and the Lord moved on to the principal item on the agenda—the reinstitution of Brother Peter. With his head bowed with guilt, he could not lead the men into the Great Commission ahead. Deflated and guilt-ridden people cannot make good leaders, so our gracious Lord gave him strength to take charge of the work of the kingdom. Now, he felt light and himself again. But how soon do we forget what took us into the valley?

With delight, Peter locked his strides with the Lord in the morning breeze. And how refreshing that must have been.

So, remember, Peter! Do not forget your walk on the sea (Matthew 14:28-31). Remember the fatal mistake that almost drowned you? Do not take your eyes from the Lord this time, Peter! 

O, but that is precisely what Simon, son of John, did.

“Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following” (20)

Jesus had told him how he, Peter, would die. Now, seeing John following them, he shifted his attention to how John would also die, taking the focus from Jesus, His walking Partner. How human!

That is our nemesis, folks! The shifting focus! Call it distraction, doubt, interference, or whatever you may; it still refers to our primary source of failure to obey the Lord.

We tire of focusing on Christ because of the surrounding attractions, concerns about others, and the fear of current world events and the future. If we could only follow Him like soldiers on the battlefront who know the risk of unfocused attention due to other concerns.

The concern for other people and events surrounding us belongs to the Lord, not us (John 21:22). Let us, therefore, leave them to Jesus and follow Him with single-minded devotion and unwavering focus on His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).