Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22 NAS95)
Who would think a post-resurrection and pre-ascension conversation Jesus had with Peter could provoke deep curiosity? Probably everyone! Jesus’ walk along the beach with Peter has profound implications for prayer. Jesus knows that in a matter of days He will ascend to the Father; so how does “follow Me” make sense in His absence? Sure “follow Me” makes sense while Jesus remained on earth - in fact, He used the phrase frequently. A person could literally tag along, watch, listen, observe, ask questions, share thoughts, engage in conversations and maybe even take on a few characteristics of Jesus. But after the ascension?
I have been pondering this verse for a while now. Jesus mentioned He would not leave us as orphans, and that He would send another Helper. Even before Pentecost He spoke of the Holy Spirit as a real presence to the disciples. “Follow Me” in Paul’s version reads: “if you walk by the Spirit.” As I continued to dwell on this, it became apparent that “follow” has a literal sense for us today. Jesus apparently thought so too, otherwise how could He make this statement to Peter just prior to the ascension? The challenge for me, though, has to do with watching, observing, listening, and conversing in prayerful attentiveness to the One who accompanies me always as the living Christ. I can follow Jesus today, but how easy it is to become distracted or consumed with something other than Christ. What about you? How I long to become practiced in prayerful awareness to His presence with me. Real, literal and profound. “Follow Me.”
God hungers to make every place, a spacious place of His presence to you!
For Reflection:
“By faith he [Moses] left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” (Hebrews 11:27 NAS95)
- How does Jesus interact with you and lead you? What sort of things does He draw your attention to regularly?
- What is Jesus showing you about Himself at this time in your life? What is He revealing to you about His character?
