Let us turn again to God's Word. I'm turning to the chapter we were in last Lord's Day evening in the Gospel according to John. And the last chapter, chapter 21. And I'll read from verse 18 through to verse 22.

The words of the Lord Jesus continuing to speak to Simon Peter in John 21 verse 18, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. He spake, signifying what daft he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said unto him, Follow me.

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following, which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.

Now, as I say, we were in the same part of Scripture last Lord's Day, and we considered those previous verses from verse 15 through 16 and 17. And there, of course, the Lord is challenging Simon Peter with those three questions lovest thou me more than these and the Lord repeats the question three times Simon Peter denied the Lord three times and denied him with curses and we remarked on the significance of the questioning and the manner of the questioning I don't want to repeat all that I said on that occasion of course but I made the point that there is a difference in the wording in verses 15 and 16 and then in verse 17 because in verses 15 and 16 the Lord and Peter use different words when Christ says Lovest thou me more than these? And Peter answers and says, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Whereas Christ uses that remarkable word agape, the purest, the highest form of love, all Peter can claim is contained in the word philo, a different word. It's still a good word and it's a good love. But it's not quite what the Lord was asking. But then in the 17th verse, the Lord uses exactly the same word, philo. And it's that that so offends Peter.

Peter was grieved, because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And then he says, Lord, thou knowest all things. previously had said, Lord thou knowest that I love thee. Now he says thou knowest all things. He confesses that the Lord knows his very heart. And I remark then, what we have here is a remarkable display of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So we thought of that love with Christ ministering to his erring disciple who had so denied him. and yet the Lord is completing really his restoration and recharging him to be one of those who will be an under-shepherd to the sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ. So we thought of the love of the Lord Jesus and I thought also to say something of Peter and Peter's love, a very real sincere love and gone now so much of his vain self-confidence and his boastings how he'd been in the sieve of Satan and those things had been sifted from his soul his love is weak and he confesses that and yet it's so real and so genuine But he won't make great claims for himself anymore and then we concluded last time by trying to say something with regards to Christian love. The Lord's love, Peter's love and Christian love, it is the calling of the Christian, is it not? If we love God, we are to love our brethren, also says John in his epistle.

But I wanted to continue with what the Lord goes on to say in the portion we just read, verses 18 through 22, and it's a significant portion because the Lord prefixes what He is saying here again with a double verily, verily, verily. Amen. Amen, it says literally in the original. It simply means truly, truly. When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what debt he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

And really it's that word Well, there's two words at the end of verse 19, follow me, and then the Lord of course repeats those words, but adds another word at the end of verse 22. If we read on, we're told how, as the Lord says, follow me, Peter turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following, which also leaned on his breast at supper and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? the beloved John. Peter seeing him said to Jesus, Lord and what shall this man do? Jesus said unto him, if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.

So the emphasis here on the following, follow me. and then more emphatically as the Lord introduces the personal pronoun speaking directly to Simon Peter follow thou me says the Lord Jesus the way of Christ and following in the way of Christ is the theme really that I want to try to address in some measure as we look at the portion tonight the way of Christ What way is the way of Christ? Well, first of all, the Lord is indicating here that in this way for Peter there will be sufferings. It is a way of sufferings. And sufferings often brings bewilderment into the lives of the people of God and confusion. We can't always understand the ways of the Lord past our finding out. They're strange, they're mysterious.

And it's interesting, isn't it, because in a sense I would say the language here in verses 18 and 19 is rather obscure. And that's significant. The very words, the language that the Lord Jesus is using, what he says to this man, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkest whither thou wouldest. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not." It's rather obscure, the things that the Lord is saying, but the ways of the Lord are like that.

The psalmist says, doesn't he, thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known how can one follow Christ and walk in the footsteps of Christ when the Lord walks at times in the seas as it were where there are no footprints we know from what Isaiah says time and again the way of God and the dealings of God are so strange that people grope for the way Isaiah 59 10 we grope for the wall like the blind We grope as if we had no eyes. We stumble at noonday as at the night. We are in desolate places as dead people. We can't understand God and the ways of God. They are past finding out, and yet the same prophet says something very comforting in another part of his book, there in chapter 42 of Isaiah, and the 16th verse. God says, and this is his word of promise, I will bring the blind by a way that they know not. I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light before them and crooked in straight. These things will I do unto them and not forsake them.

We might be like the blind, groping for the way, but here is the word of God. And here is the promise of God. And of course we read that opening chapter of the second epistle of Peter where he speaks of exceeding great and precious promises. And there are so many scattered throughout the Word of God. But what a promise is this when we feel that we scarce know the way and we can't understand the dealings of the Lord. He says he will bring those blind people by a way they know not. I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness like before them and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them and not forsake them." And how appropriate that is to the experience that Peter must pass through when he's old, when he's a younger man and he seems to have some liberty, but when he's old. He's going to be led in strange ways. Ways that he would not choose himself. When thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands another shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. Is he not being told that he's going to be something of a way of sufferings? Even martyrdom in the end.

And it seems to have meant a great deal to Peter. He makes mention of it, doesn't he, in that portion that we read there in that opening chapter of 2 Peter. Knowing that shortly I must put off this, my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me, he says. Of course, speaking there of his body as a tabernacle, a tent, a temporary dwelling. He knew that the day would come when there would be the separation of body and soul. There was a time appointed, a time to die, and he would die even as the Lord Jesus Christ had told him, had indicated to him. Oh, it is a way, a way of suffering. It's a hard path that this man must ultimately find himself in. even according to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But what a contrast he's drawn. There's freedom, and then in the end there's captivity. When young, he said, thou girdest thyself. This is how it would be, of course, because of the manner of dress that they wore. They would wear flowing garments, robes, and if they wanted to do anything they would have a girdle, a belt, and they would raise up their flowing garments into their girdles so they had freedom of movement. And it's a figure that Peter uses. He uses it in his epistles. to speak of how one must gird up the loins of one's mind. It's a familiar figure to him. The Lord is speaking, indicating then that whilst young he's got freedom, Peter says to those he's addressing in his first epistle and the first chapter, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, hope for the end, indicating that we need to have uncluttered minds and we need to be clear in our thinking, we need to seek that sound mind that is the promise of the Lord to his people.

it's a figure that he uses because he is so familiar with these things but that's when he's young and he enjoys those liberties and he can do in a sense as he pleases and go where he will but when he's old all the contrasts that we have at the end of that 18th verse when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee and carry thee whether thou wouldest not a place where he would not choose to go, and so he must be made to go, he must be carried into that particular world. What is he speaking of? Well, maybe it's going to be his end, his martyrdom, his death. Certainly it's indicating to him that there's a certain inevitability with regards to suffering.

As I said, the whole portion begins with a double verily. This is a truth that cannot be going said. It's a word of the Lord and it will come to pass. And when Peter writes in his epistles, he's ever mindful of the way of trial, the way of trouble. Remember what he says again there in that opening chapter of the first epistle? Now for a season, he says, if need be, you are in heaviness to manifold temptation, that the trying of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Oh, there's a needs be, if needs be. It's necessary. The Lord sees it's necessary. there's nothing strange about this later in that same first epistle in the fourth chapter he says Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you there's nothing strange that's the lot of God's people what he actually says there in that particular chapter, what he goes on to say is interesting.

In chapter 4 of the first letter, verse 12, following, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's offerings. that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Ought to be a partaker of Christ's offerings, Tradition says, and I don't know that we can rely on tradition, but tradition does say that Peter himself was executed by crucifixion. Some say he was actually crucified upside down. Now I don't know, I don't trust that's the traditions that would be followed, I suppose, in the Church of Rome. but surely he knew something of the sufferings of Christ by experience.

If any man will come after me, says the Lord Jesus, let him take up his cross and follow me and this is what Peter must do. He must take up his cross, he must follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ. There will come sufferings at some point maybe many times he will have to endure sufferings but certainly when he comes to his end his freedom has gone, he doesn't have the liberties he had once enjoyed and now he is taken he's taken where he would not choose to go, would not prefer to go and what do sufferings involve? they involve changes it's a remarkable change in what we have in this 18th verse from when he is young and has perfect liberty to when he is old.

But isn't that the life of the people of God, a life of changes? Remember what the Psalmist says in Psalm 55 concerning the ungodly because they have no changes therefore they fear not God. Our changes tend to cast us upon our God. He sees the necessity of having to deal with those events that come and they are not events that we would choose ourselves. But in His wisdom the Lord appoints them and appoints them for a purpose. And the change is good for us in that sense. Because again and again we are made to feel our our own utter weakness, our helplessness, our complete dependence upon the Lord and we need to be kept preserved by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Here is a way of suffering saying that the preacher will know certainly when he comes to the end of his days but also in the second place The way of the Lord Jesus Christ is a way of temptation, is it not? Follow me, says the Lord, follow thou me. What was the Lord's life? Well, we know that as soon as he entered into his public ministry, immediately after his baptism at the hands of John, as he comes up out of the waters of course and the father speaks and owns and acknowledges him this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased the spirit descends in the form of a dove and the spirit leads him into the wilderness to be tempted and there he is 40 days and 40 nights and all what temptations he has to endure in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

It might be like our temptations. I would say in many ways it's far more intense than any temptation we might ever know. Because how soon Satan can gain an advantage over us, we have a fallen nature that will fall in with his ways. The Lord did not have that. No, that holy thing that was born of the Virgin's womb call the Son of God. That was a sinless human nature, an impeccable human nature. He could never see, however much Satan might tempt him. But then the devil leaves him. But it says the devil left him for a season. And when he comes to the end of his days, he says to the disciples, ye are they that have continued with me in my temptation.

the disciples of Christ, they know something of the temptations and Peter certainly knows that and we see it here really there's a great adversary, there's Satan there's that one with whom God's people are continually engaged in immortal warfare The Hymn writer says this way that's found by few ten thousand snares be set to turn the seeker steps aside and trap the travelers feet. The devil sets his jinns, his snares, his traps and how quickly, how easily we can become entangled.

or there is a great adversary, it's a way of temptation. And Peter, Peter is the one who says, be sober, be vigilant, because the devil is a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. And how subtle, how clever Satan is, and look at what is said here, the end of verse 19, after speaking of Peter and what he will endure at the end, when his liberty is all gone, this spake is signifying by what death he should glorify God.

Then the end of verse 19, When he had spoken this, he, that is the Lord, said unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following. It does appear that the Lord and Peter are walking now. Maybe they're walking away from those other disciples that were present. Remember, we're told who were there on the occasion. They've been fishing in the sea of Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee. And there were others together with Simon Peter. And the names are there in verse 2. And it seems here that Peter has drawn, the Lord has drawn Peter aside and they're walking side by side and Peter turning about seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following which also leaned on his breast at supper and said Lord which is he that betrayeth thee well John might be in a sense concealing his identity he's the author, the human author of the gospel of course but he's He's not naming himself, but he gives enough hints. We know who he's talking about, it's the beloved John.

The beloved John, how favoured, how blessed he was. It's not strange in a sense that Peter, being aware that this one is there, would want to know, you know, if this is going to be my lot, what's going to be the lot of dear John? intimate with the Lord. But the point I make is this, how easily Peter is diverted. This is what the devil does you see, he can divert us in easy ways, simple ways really. And the Lord clearly in a sense rebukes Peter. if I will that he tell it shall I come what is that to thee? and then he says very emphatically follow thou me we know that little things can divert us we think of another occasion with Simon Peter when the disciples go before the Lord on a ship and the Lord sends away the multitude after the feeding of the five thousand and the Lord then goes into the mountain and is in prayer and the disciples are on the Sea of Galilee and the wind is boisterous and they are obviously fearful now and then suddenly they see the Lord walking to them on the water

And there is Peter, bold, impetuous Peter, no sooner he recognizes the Lord than he's out of the boat and he's walking on the water to meet with the Lord. The Lord's walking on the water is a miracle, but here is Peter also walking on the water. That's another part of the miracle. But then he's diverted. When he saw the wind, boisterous it says, He was afraid. In other words, he's looking at the Lord, he's going to the Lord and now he turns his eyes from the Lord. He's aware of all that's going on, the elements, everything about him. That's a diversion. And he begins to think and he cries out and says, Lord, save me. And it seems that immediately they are safely in the boats. But then the Lord rebukes him. or thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? The devil had gained some advantage over him there. He'd been diverted. He'd taken his eye off the Lord.

We have to be looking on to Jesus. Isn't that the way of faith always? We can never take our eyes off Jesus. looking on to Jesus, looking away from every other object, only to Jesus, the author, the finisher of our faith. That is the life of faith, a life of complete and utter dependence. Indeed, Peter is more aware of what's going on behind him than following the Lord Jesus in the way. No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is worthy of the Kingdom of God, says the Lord. And here is Peter turning around, turning about, he seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following.

Now, we need to be careful, it's good to have an interest, a concern for others, surely it is. Surely it is. Isn't that part and parcel of real Christian fellowship? By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, says the Lord, if ye have love one to another. The words of the Lord Jesus, we are to love one another. And we mention several times those words in the third chapter of John's first epistle. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. If we If we want to know, if we want to have that assurance that we truly are born again of the Spirit of God, we pass from death to life, regenerated by the grace of God, how can we know? We can deduce it. Do we love the brethren?

And I'm sure that Peter loved John. The Lord loved John. one seems to gather from one reading in the writings of John he was a lovely man, he was a man that it was easy to love in so many ways so we mustn't be too hard with Peter and yet think of those words in the Song of Solomon Song of Solomon 1 verse 6 where we find those words mine own vine have I not kept my own vine we have to look to ourselves at times remember ourselves and our own particularly what is that to thee says the Lord what is that to thee Simon Peter follow thou me this is what Peter should be principally concerned about following the Lord Jesus Christ and how simple a way it is really

The Lord's words here are so direct, so straightforward. All that Peter has to do is follow the Lord. Follow me. Follow thou me. And the Gospel call, isn't the Gospel call as straightforward and as direct and as simple as that? It's a call to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him, that's the call that comes to us in the Gospel and it's a safe way and that's what I want to say something about in the third place really, it's a way of safety the wayfaring men, they're fools it says, shall not err therein Isaiah 35.8 the wayfaring men, those men who are in that way, that narrow way that leads to life and yet at times we're so easily diverted.

It's painted in a wonderful manner, of course, in that remarkable book, The Pilgrim's Progress, of Bunyan's. How the poor Christian finds himself in Bypass Meadow. He's out of the way. The wayfaring men, though fools, so foolish at times, though fools they shall not err therein, the Lord will keep His people. It's a safe way to go. Why is it safe? Why is it safe? Because of the Saviour and because of the sovereignty of the Saviour. Who is this One who is speaking? It's the God-man, it's the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal God, who is speaking. And how His voice is so authoritative, how the call of grace is so effectual.

aren't we told how he went up into a mountain, he goes up into the mountain and calleth unto him whom he would, it says in Mark 3 and verse 13 that's the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ, he goes into the mountain he calls unto him whom he would and then we have the names in verse 14 of those who were to be his apostles but it's an emphasis there upon upon His sovereignty. He calls who He woulds. And remember when we see Him walking by the Sea of Galilee and He calls those to be His disciples, doesn't He? There they are, they're fishermen. There's Peter and Andrew, they're about their business and the Lord says to them, follow Me. And then the sons of Zebedee, John and James, and immediately the Lord says, follow me, and immediately they leave their nets and they follow Him. How there is authority in that voice, the voice of the Lord Jesus when He calls His sheep. Oh, they know His voice and they follow Him. And He gives to them eternal life and they shall never perish.

Well, with those who know that voice, the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, it still comes. We see it, of course, we're bound to see it, really, in the ministry of the apostles, when Paul is writing there to the Thessalonians. Remember what he says in chapter 2 of that first epistle? and verse 13 for this cause also thank we God without ceasing because when you receive the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe that's the word of God it's an effectual word and it works and there's safety in that Oh, there's safety in that.

There's a Sovereign Saviour who is there behind all the sufferings, all the temptations, all that comes into the life of Simon Peter. Here is his comfort. There's that Word of Christ behind what he experiences. And that's what he says, isn't it, in that portion, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown us. There's comfort for Peter there. The Lord had shown him a thing. And he rested. He rested in what the Lord had said. And here, what is he doing? He's encouraging the man in the way. Follow me. Follow thou me. I think those words really did go home. That's why Peter makes mention of what the Lord had been saying to him there in that opening chapter of the second epistle in that 14th verse and though the Lord you see is one who can sympathize with him in all his sufferings in that he himself has suffered being tempted he is able to suck them that are tempted he's not just a sovereign saviour, he's a He's a sympathizing Savior. He knows what sore temptations mean. He has felt the same. He has known the same himself. He's been tempted in all points. Just as we are. And yet without sin he has overcome all the cunning, all the craft, all the devices. of the great adversary of souls.

And what is the Lord doing in all his dealings with Simon Peter, this whole incident, it's all part and parcel of his restoration, it's part and parcel of his sanctification. What is this way that he is to walk in? I've referred already to Isaiah 35.8, the wayfaring man. But it says also, and highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness. It's the way of holiness.

You see, when we think of the Lord's dealings, trials, and testings, and temptations, I remarked last week how really, in trying to entrap Peter, or I should really say, to catch him as it were, in his sieve, Satan overreached himself, didn't he? he thought he'd got Peter when he denied the Lord three times and yet the Lord so overrules all of that that what's being sifted out of this man is all his sin, all that's of himself, all his self-confidence, all his boasting, so all denied I'll never deny that." That's what he would say, but no more.

Or the devil overreaches himself. And so, even when the devil comes with his temptations, the Lord can so work as to accomplish the sanctifying of his people, chastisement. It's for our profits. It says, that we might be partakers of His holiness. The Lord will have His people a holy people, a sanctified people.

Now this is what Peter is to do, is to walk in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the great message that comes through at the end of the passage really. What is Peter to do? He denied the Christ. He denied the Christ of God. But now the Lord says to him, follow me. Follow thou me.

Or that we might be those who by the grace of God would desire to do that one thing and to be those who are the true followers and the real disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. That we might simply walk in his footsteps and follow him in that blessed way that leads to life.

Oh, the Lord bless to us his word. Amen.