Kindred: The Cost of Loving JesusSample

When Peter didn’t respond to His command, Jesus kept talking.  Jesus told Peter he would eventually be killed for loving others in Jesus’ name. 

Again, Peter was silent. We don’t get to find out what he was feeling and thinking here, but we can guess. He had to be scared. Who wouldn’t be? Plus, fear of being killed was what had caused Peter to deny Jesus after Jesus’ arrest, something he felt awful about. 

Knowing Peter’s thoughts, Jesus still said, “Follow me!” Jesus knew what He was asking of Peter, but still expected Peter to obey, just as Jesus had obeyed His Heavenly Father by allowing Himself to be killed on the cross for our sin. Jesus’ command wasn’t unfair. He asked no more of Peter than He Himself had been willing to give for God’s glory. 

In the process of coming to terms with his own fate, Peter asked Jesus what would happen to John. Like many of us, Peter wanted to know if he would be the only one to suffer, but Jesus didn’t give Peter the answer he was looking for. It was irrelevant. Whether or not John had to suffer, too, Peter had to obey, just as the rest of us do.  

Life isn’t fair, but that’s a good thing. If we got what we deserved, none of us would have heaven to look forward to, would we? 

Thank God for showing you grace and mercy through Jesus and ask Him for the strength to do the same for others so they will believe the Gospel you speak.