Transforming (phase 4) - Jesus appears to the disciples on the lakeshore (step 31) - session 1e

Jn 21 (cont.)

"Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, "Follow me." - (18-19)

Jesus now indicates to Peter the reason why it is so important that Peter know that he is acting out of love for the Lord, not out of mere obligation. Merely being connected to Jesus because of following him for these years and seeing his miracles - having a sense that this is someone that Peter desperately wants to be dedicated to, to the point of giving his all for Jesus - did not keep him from failing to fulfill his expressed willingness to lay down his own life for the Lord. Peter needs to be moved beyond affection and idealism and obligation to the unwavering north star of love. Any lesser motivation would cause him to ultimately shrink again in the face of the trials to come. And Jesus wants Peter to know that he is not the same man, driven by the same inadequate desires, but is now a true disciple motivated by love.

And now, when Jesus says "Follow me," there is no mistaking what that means. All of those things that he has said - there being no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend; the extent to which he calls us to serve one another; sending the disciples as the Father had sent him - are now in the context of his crucifixion sacrifice and his resurrection from the dead. 

Will I follow?