SEPTEMBER 8, 2019
THE SOLEMN CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION:
1. Christ’s post-resurrection appearance to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias had a particular design and purpose.
2. His sudden appearance; the miraculous catch; the miraculous provision; the after dinner discourse were all meant for their instruction and encouragement in the work of the Gospel after His ascension.
3. His interrogation of Peter was intense, but designed for his restoration and confirmation. Peter’s future role as chief of the apostles made this necessary, and it was as much for sake of the other disciples as it was for Peter’s sake. Jesus had said to Peter, “After thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31, 32) Perhaps this is the “conversion” of which He was speaking, or at least, the completion of it.
4. As for Peter’s statement, that he would die with Christ before ever he would deny Him (Matt. 26:35; Mark 14:31), Jesus here reveals to him that he shall indeed do just that, (and possibly in the same manner) however it would not be any time soon, but rather, “when thou art old.” It will be after a long and faithful ministry that He will die a martyr’s death for sake of Christ and the Gospel.
5. In these verses we have the conclusion to John’s Gospel.
I. PETER’S CURIOUS CONCERN ABOUT JOHN AND WHAT THE FUTURE HELD FOR HIM. (VRS. 20-23) Jesus had just revealed to Peter that he would finish his course being martyred for the Christian faith. He described to His apostle what would almost certainly be death by crucifixion. The time, the place, the manner, and the painfulness of the disciple’s death were all matters foreseen by the Master. To obtain such foreknowledge would, in most cases, not be good for us, but it is an unspeakable consolation to remember that our whole future is known and fore-arranged by Christ. There is no such thing as luck, chance, or accident. Everything in the course of our life, from beginning to end is foreseen – arranged by our all-wise Lord.
A. HAVING MADE KNOWN TO PETER THE MANNER IN WHICH HE WOULD GLORIFY GOD, HE THEN SAID FOLLOW ME. (VERSE 19) This must have reminded Peter of the previous exchange between himself and his Lord. (Ch. 13:36, 37)
1. Thankfully, John did not leave to human imagination what Jesus was talking about. “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.” (The expression, “glorify God,” is especially interesting because it teaches us that we may bring glory to God by our death, as well as by our life.)
2. It would seem that the Lord, having spoken this, must have, as He was turning away, said to Peter, “Follow me.”
B. AS PETER FOLLOWED JESUS; AS HE MOVED AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE MEAL, HE TURNED TO SEE JOHN WAS ALSO FOLLOWING. (VERSES 20)
1. This verse brings in the Apostle John himself, describing him with more than usual feeling and particularity, as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,…which also leaned on his breast at supper,” as if to prevent the possibility of mistake.
2. Was Peter displeased to see John, who had not been summoned by the Lord, also following as some suggest? Was there something wrong in the act itself; suggesting that even after his deep humiliation he still tended to compare himself with others.
3. The literal translation of Peter’s question in Verse 21 would be, “Lord: and this man what?” Therefore the precise meaning and object of the question have been much debated. For example, “Why is this man allowed to follow?” Thus, Jesus’ answer might have had only to do with the present situation, and nothing future. But this explanation seems very lame.
C. PETER’S CURIOUS INQUIRY CONCERNING JOHN’S FUTURE. (VERSE 21) Peter had learned about what his work would be, and that he would die a martyr’s death when he was old. Now he would know what would be John’s lot. This inquiry may be variously understood.
1. Some think the question was one of unseemly curiosity; one that Peter ought not to have asked. Since Jesus offered no prediction about John, it was not Peter’s place to ask.
2. Some think that the question was one of brotherly love, interest, and affection; one that arose from Peter’s tender feelings toward John, as the disciple whom he loved most among the apostles. He desired to know what would be the future lot of his beloved friend and brother.
3. Some think that the question reveals a latent jealousy in Peter, and that seemed to suspect that John, not having denied his Lord, would die an easier death than himself.
4. Perhaps there is truth in all three of these opinions.
5. It seems certain from Christ’s answer that there was something amiss in the question. Considering the charge that he had been given over such a treasure, and the notice of such a trial, it would have been better had he asked for grace to be faithful in his calling and strong in his great trials.
D. CHRIST’S REPLY TO PETER’S INQUIRY. (VERSE 22)
1. He let Peter know that whatever might be His will and pleasure for John was not his concern, but rather his thoughts were to be occupied with his own present duty. “Follow thou me.”
2. Our Lord’s answer can only be taken as a rebuke. It was means to teach the apostle that he must first attend to his own duty, mind his own soul, fulfill his own course, and leave the future of others in the hands of a wise and merciful Savior.
3. The words of our Lord, “If I will that he tarry till I come…” are deep and mysterious, and have also been variously interpreted.
a) Some have thought that He mean till I come for him at death.
b) Some actually hold that Jesus mean that the Apostle John was never to die at all, but remain until the Second Advent. (This is, of course, preposterous.)
c) Many have held that Jesus was saying, “…till I come” in the judgment of Jerusalem. (70 A.D.)
d) A few have held the view that Jesus meant till He would come to John to reveal to him the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation.
e) Others think that He did not mean anything in particular, but only used a general hypothetical expression, meant to emphasize the point that it was not Peter’s business to
inquire into it.
f) This last view seems (to me) to be the most likely meaning, but there does also seem to be the intimation that John would not die a violent death, which he did not.
E. THE MISTAKE THAT WAS MADE IN THE EARLY CHURCH WITH RESPECT TO THIS SAYING OF CHRIST. (VERSE 23)
1. Because John was not to die a martyr’s death, it was supposed that he must not die at all.
2. John here says that it became a common saying among the brethren (an early church tradition, if you will), in spite of the fact that John himself was there to correct the error. “Yet Jesus said not unto him, he shall not die…”
a) Some may have taken into their heads that, like Enoch and Elijah, he would be somehow translated into glory without dying.
b) Others may have chosen to believe (for we easily believe what we wish to be true) that John would abide in the flesh and continue in the world until the second coming of Christ.
c) Keep in mind that they were not thinking in terms of thousands of years. There are many indications that the Apostles expected Christ to return much sooner, perhaps even in their lifetime. (Phil. 4:5; Tit. 2:11-13;Heb. 10:27; James 5:7, 8; etc.)
3. Let us be aware of the aptness of men to misinterpret the sayings of Christ, and of the other Scriptures. (II Pet. 3:15-17)
II. FINALLY, WE HAVE HERE THE CONCLUSION OF THIS WONDERFUL GOSPEL. (VERSES 24, 25)
A. IN CONCLUSION, JOHN MAKES A SOLEMN DECLARATION OF HIS OWN AUTHORSHIP, AND OF THE TRUTH OF THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN THIS GOSPEL. (VERSE 24)
1. As usual, with characteristic humility, he does not give his name, but modestly speaks of himself in the third person.
2. Notice also that he uses the first person plural in attesting to the absolute accuracy of this record. “And we know that this testimony is true.” This he does in the beginning of his first Epistle. (I John 1:1ff)
a) Either as expression in a modest fashion his own assurance that his record is true;
b) or, as expressing the common sense of all readers that the testimony of an eyewitness of unspotted reputation is true;
c) or, as expressing the satisfaction of the churches (of Asia Minor, etc.) to the truth of this narrative.
B. IN CONCLUSION, JOHN DECLARES THAT THOUGH HIS GOSPEL CONTAINS NOTHING BUT TRUTH, IT IS FAR FROM EXHAUSTIVE. (VERSE 25)
1. There were many other things that our Lord did, including many other signs, or mighty works (Ch. 20:30), which John does not include.
2. Everything that Jesus said and did was worth our notice, for He never spoke an idle word, or did an idle thing; nothing about His life was little or meaningless, but it was not possible or necessary to record all.
a) That a more voluminous record was unnecessary is made obvious in that John wrote according to the mind of the Holy Spirit. (II Tim. 3:16)
b) That an exhaustive record would have been impossible, John states in hyperbole in the very last line: “I suppose that even the world could not contain the books.”
3. To the book, John adds his seal, “Amen.” Let us also add our Amen to this wonderful book!
Speak Your Mind