John 21:17-19
Peter Will Go Where He Does Not Want to Go
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Matthew 16:24-28
Following Jesus
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Matthew 17:1-13
Jesus Transfigures and Talks to Moses and Elijah
1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Jesus tells Peter that when he was younger he dressed himself and went where he wanted to go; but now when you get older you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go...Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God...Peter would die glorifying Jesus and God...
Peter would surrender his life to others and die glorifying God...Following Jesus does not necessarily take us to places we want to go...Jesus wants us to focus on our souls...Even Peter, one of Jesus' lead disciples would be led to a place he did not want to go...Following Jesus makes us give up earthly things and think about the eternities...Following Jesus makes us deny things on earth...If we want to be a Disciple of His, then we must deny ourselves...For whoever wants to save their own life will lose their life, but whoever loses their life for Jesus will find it...What good is it for anyone to gain the whole world and everything in it, yet forfeit their soul?...Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?...For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done....And He will reward them in His Kingdom for who they believe in...
Peter had been with Jesus and had seen so much from Him...Peter had heard Jesus teach...He had seen Jesus heal people miraculously...Peter saw Jesus raise Lazarus...Peter saw Jesus talk to Moses and Elijah on the sacred mountain...He followed Jesus the night of His arrest and would wind up denying his Master...Yet, Peter loved Jesus very much and saw Him and was with Him now after His resurrection from death...Jesus is not only our Savior from our sins, but Jesus is also our Savior from death...If Jesus had not resurrected, we would not see eternal life...The importance of the resurrection is the most important historical fact in our lives...Jesus is the Savior of our eternal souls...