John 21:18-19 - Homiletics

Prediction of Peter's death.

Our Lord next announces what will be the manner of the end of his disciple's ministry.

I. THE LORD HAS FIXED THE TIME OF PETER 'S END .

1. Job speaks of the days of man being determined. "The number of his months are with thee; thou hast appointed his bounds, that he cannot pass."

2. Jesus has a lordship over the life and death of his saints. "If we die, we die unto the Lord;" "He is the Lord both of the living and of the dead" ( Romans 14:8 , Romans 14:9 ).

3. The Lord's disposal of his saints' lives makes them immortal till their work is done .

II. THE LORD DETERMINES THE MANNER OF PETER 'S DEATH . It was to be a death of violence. He was to become a martyr of the Christian faith. "When thou wast young"—Peter was now a middle-aged man—"thou girdedst thyself"—possessing full liberty of life—"and walkedst whither thou wouldest"—with full freedom of movement—"but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands"—as helpless and in the power of others—"and another shall gird thee"—as a condemned criminal—"and carry thee whither thou wouldest not." A violent death, as being unnatural, is shrunk from. But these words are to be regarded solely from the standpoint of natural feeling.

1. The apostle understood the exact nature of this prediction, as we know by his own words , "Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me" ( 2 Peter 1:14 ).

2. The death of the apostle was to redound to the glory of God . "This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. The martyrs glorify God

3. The martyrdom of Peter took place in the year A.D. 64. It was, therefore, now a past event which the evangelist records.

III. PETER 'S DUTY HENCEFORTH IN LIFE . "Follow me."

1. It was a solemn thought to the apostle to know the destined end of his apostolic labors.

2. This knowledge would intensify his eager zeal to work without pause during the term of life that remained to him.

3. The command to follow Christ implied