Picture it: Peter, the deeply repentant ‘denier of Jesus’ is now walking along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee with the crucified but risen Jesus at his side! What a morning: first a miraculous catch of fish, then breakfast around a charcoal fire (just like the one where Peter denied Jesus 3 times), both provided by Jesus, who intentionally and mercifully gives Peter 3 opportunities to reaffirm his all-in faith. Then Jesus tells Peter that he (Peter) will indeed die for Jesus someday and says: “Follow Me!” (John 21:19). Now their walk together. Absorbing it all, Peter turns to see John following them, and ask Jesus: “LORD, what about Him?” What will his story be? How will his life go? Jesus responds: “What is that to you? You follow Me! (21:20-22).” That’s our topic, our theme and our application this weekend: What does it mean truly, daily, to follow Jesus? How do we discern our “next right step” on that journey?
