Every believer lives under the certainty of two eschatological realities. The Lord may return for His church in the Rapture (1 Th. 4:16–17), in which case we will not taste death but will “all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:51–52). But if we are not part of the Rapture generation, then each of us will face physical death, because “it is appointed for men to die once” (Heb. 9:27). For the believer, however, death is not defeat but the final opportunity to glorify God. A life lived in obedience to the Lord can culminate in a death that honors Him, just as Paul wrote, “Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20).
This principle appears clearly in the Lord’s post-resurrection conversation with Peter, where Jesus revealed that even the manner of Peter’s death would become an act that glorifies God. John 21:18–19 records the Lord’s final words to Peter after restoring him from his threefold denial (John 21:15–17). Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go” (John 21:18). John then adds the inspired explanation, “Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’” (John 21:19).
The contrast in John 21:18 is between Peter’s past independence and his future martyrdom. When Peter was young, he “girded” himself and went where he desired. The language reflects the ancient practice of tightening a garment to move freely. In the future, however, Peter would lose that freedom. Jesus says he will “stretch out your hands,” an expression widely understood in the early church as a reference to crucifixion. Others will “gird” him and lead him where he does not wish to go. The statement predicts that Peter would die as a martyr, which early Christian testimony affirms occurred in Rome. Thus, the Lord reveals Peter’s end from the divine vantage point. The One who knows “the end from the beginning” (Isa. 46:10) discloses the path of Peter’s life and death.
John 21:19 explains the theological significance of that death. John writes that Jesus spoke “signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.” Even martyrdom can become an act of worship. When a believer remains faithful under suffering, the result magnifies God’s worth and truth. Peter would eventually demonstrate this principle in his own teaching: “If anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name” (1 Pet. 4:16). The death of the believer does not defeat God’s purpose. Rather, the believer’s endurance under trial becomes a testimony to the reality and value of Christ. In this respect Peter’s future mirrored the pattern first established by Jesus Himself. The Lord said concerning His own death, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him” (John 13:31), and again prayed, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4). Just as Christ followed the Father’s will even to the cross, so Peter would follow Christ’s will even to martyrdom, and both acts of obedience would result in the glory of God. Carson notes, “What is remarkable is that Peter lived and served three decades with this prediction hanging over him.”[1] Later church tradition claims Peter was crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die as his Lord did, but this cannot be verified and remains uncertain.[2]
After revealing Peter’s future death, Jesus immediately returns him to the present with a simple command: “Follow Me.” The Lord discloses the destination but emphasizes the next step. The Christian life is lived one step of obedience at a time. God may know the entire course of a believer’s life, but the believer’s responsibility is to follow Christ today. The command echoes Jesus’ earlier call to discipleship: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). Following Christ means orienting one’s will, priorities, and conduct under His authority. According to Blum, “Obedience to Jesus’ command, Follow Me, is the key issue in every Christian’s life. As Jesus followed the Father’s will, so His disciples should follow their Lord whether the path leads to a cross or to some other difficult experience.”[3]
The practical lesson is direct. The future belongs to God, but obedience belongs to us. Christians often want full knowledge of what lies ahead. Scripture rarely provides that. Instead, the Lord gives direction for the present moment. The believer advances by trusting God’s sovereignty while concentrating on present faithfulness. As Proverbs states, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5–6).
To follow Jesus, therefore, means to live under His authority, guided by His Word, and empowered by His Spirit. It means learning His thinking through Scripture (Col. 3:16), walking by faith rather than sight (2 Cor. 5:7), and presenting oneself as an instrument of righteousness (Rom. 6:13). The believer does not need to control the entire future. He simply keeps moving behind the Shepherd who leads him. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Faithful discipleship is not primarily about knowing the entire path ahead. It is about staying close to the One who already knows it.
Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.
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[1] D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 680.
[2] The earliest reference to this idea appears in the apocryphal Acts of Peter from the late second century, and the report is later repeated by writers such as Origen and Eusebius of Caesarea. However, the tradition rests on sources removed from the events themselves and lacks contemporary historical verification. As D. A. Carson observes, “Later accounts of Peter asking to be crucified upside down, because he felt unworthy to be crucified as his Lord was, are too remote and too infected with legendary accretions to be reliable.” D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W. B. Eerdmans, 1991), 680.
[3] Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 345.
Those who are children of Satan are called “sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:2), are under “the dominion of Satan” (Acts 26:18), and reside in his “domain of darkness” (Col 1:13; cf., Rom 2:19). These walk “in the futility of their mind” (Eph 4:17b), and are “darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (Eph 4:18). Paul said that Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor 4:4). But these are not unwilling victims; for though they are born into Satan’s kingdom and “held captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim 2:26), they also enjoy what he offers and are said to “love the darkness rather than the Light” (John 3:19). The word love in this passage translates the Greek verb agapao (ἀγαπάω), which is in the active voice and means they willingly love the darkness of Satan’s world system and all their affections are tied to it. They continue as residents of his kingdom by choice and not by chance. Freedom awaits them if they want it. Freedom in Christ. But they don’t want freedom. And when given the opportunity to be liberated from their captor, they prefer to clutch their chains of familiar pleasures and practices than to step into the unknown freedom and responsibilities of liberty in Christ. Jesus said of them, “you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:40).
It is to our benefit to realize we live in a fallen world, and when we walk with God, in total devotion to Christ, the world will reject us. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). We understand that the gospel of grace and solid Bible teaching will, on occasion, threaten other people’s pride and power, and we should not be surprised when they react negatively and with hostility, either verbally or physically. If possible, we are to get along with others and pursue peace (Rom 12:18), but never at the price of neglecting our mission to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15), or gather together for Bible study (Acts 2:42; 2 Tim 2:15), fellowship (Heb 10:25), worship (Eph 5:19-20), and prayer (1 Th 5:17). Because we live in a fallen world, there will be times when we must choose whether we will serve God or man. Of course, the correct choice is, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29; cf. Dan 3:18). And though we may enjoy periods of peace and blessing, the world is currently under Satan’s control, which means it will only get worse, not better. As Christians, we are both realistic and optimistic about the world and the future. Realistic that we will not win the world to Christ during our time on earth (though not for want of effort by sharing the gospel and Bible teaching), and optimistic because we know Christ is coming back and will make everything right when He returns. Lastly, we must keep our focus on God and His Word (Isa 26:3; Col 3:2, 16), as it provides mental and emotional stability when trouble comes (and it will). Adversity is inevitable, and we must handle it by wisdom and faith.
God’s greatest provision was for our eternal salvation, which came through His Son, Jesus, Who died in our place and bore the punishment that rightfully belongs to us (Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3-4; 1 Pet 3:18). When we trust in Christ alone as our Savior, we receive forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), eternal life (John 10:28), are transferred into “the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13), become “children of God” (John 1:12), and are blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3). God’s wonderful grace is amazing! And God, having done the most for us at the cross, will not do less for us after our salvation. Paul wrote, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom 8:31-32). Since God has already demonstrated His maximum love and generosity by giving His Son for our salvation, it only stands to reason that He will certainly provide everything else needed for our well-being, and for a life that glorifies Him and edifies others.
By faith we trust God and rest in His promises. Failure to trust God will result in worry, fear, and an anxious heart that is never at rest. Do our hearts ever become anxious? Of course they do. And does fear ever rise up? Yes, of course it does. Well over a hundred times in the OT & NT believers are told “do no fear” and “do not be afraid” (e.g., Gen 15:1, Deut 1:21; Isa 41:10; Matt 10:28; 1 Pet 3:14). These directives would be superfluous if sinful fear was not a problem for the believer. Sometimes we become like Peter and look at the storm around us (Matt 14:30), become frightened, and sink into what we fear. But when fear rises up, faith must rise higher, always trusting God to keep His Word. When trials come (and they will), we must see them as opportunities to grow in our faith (Jam 1:2-4). The benefit of living by faith is a relaxed mental attitude as the believer focuses on the Lord and His promises. Remember, God always keeps His promises, for “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num 23:19). Yes, He will always keep His Word, for “the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind” (1 Sam 15:29), for “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18). God has integrity and keeps His Word, and “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph 3:20a).
God will provide. The challenge for us, as His children, is to accept His Word as true and apply it to our lives on a regular basis. The walk of faith requires us to have discipline of mind and will, to learn and live God’s Word, and to stay focused on Him and His promises. As God’s children, we are to “walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). The walk of faith is what He wants, for He says, “My righteous one shall live by faith” (Heb 10:38), and “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). The life of faith is what Pleases God, “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb 11:6). Will there be failure on our part? Yes, more often than most of us would like to admit. But that’s why daily confession is important (1 John 1:9), as we acknowledge our sins to God, trust that He forgives, and then move back into a walk of faith. Let us continually learn and live God’s Word, always trusting the Lord will provide and that He will keep His promises to us. This way of living will glorify God, edify others, and result in a relaxed mental attitude for us as we lean on the Lord.