After his resurrection, Jesus was having a conversation with Peter. He had some difficult news for him,
"Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" John 21:18-19 (NIV)
History tells us this death, for Peter, was to be crucified upside down.
You have to admire Peter, he says out loud what many of us would only think. Hearing this news, and the command to follow Jesus, Peter takes a quick look around and wants to know if he's alone in this future.
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." John 21:20-22 (NIV)
At first, Jesus response seemed a bit harsh to me. But that was until I realized Peter did not affirm he would follow Christ yet. He was trying to get off the topic, but Jesus brings him right back.
"You must follow me...."
And so it is with us. We see the lives of others and wonder why things don't all seem the same for every follower of Christ.
The question is not the ones we ask, "Lord what about..." What about what? Our prosperity? Our health? Our Job? Our "promise" of a happy life free from trouble?
The true issue here is how will we respond to that one invitation.
"You must follow me...."
Will we? Not matter the cost?
