Certainty: Simon had lost all sense of certainty. He was once full of self-confidence and bravado, but now he was unsure about his own loyalty, courage, and his fitness for ministry. In this state of uncertainty, the Lord gave him assurance.[1] He gave him His incontrovertible word of promise: Simon will one day become a martyr (v19). He would no longer be childish, following his own whim and fancy, but one day head to the cross[2] as an old man in the footsteps of Jesus. The Lord guaranteed this as the One who is able to disciple this man; all Simon must do is “follow Me.” When Simon was concerned about the future of a fellow disciple, Jesus told him to mind his own business and focus on following (v22). Jesus, in His wisdom and sovereignty, will take care of His own.
Follow Me: Jesus’ call to Simon Peter was surprisingly simple, just two words, “Follow Me.” It wasn’t: work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), behold My glory and be transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Cor. 3:18), or be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you (2 Pet. 1:10). All those have their place, but to this discouraged man in need of hope, Jesus just said, “Follow Me.” Much like His words to the troubled disciples in the upper room (Jn. 14:1), this was to put into action his trust in Him (Jn. 10:25-27). The Savior who bore our sins on the cross is also the light of the world who will lead us out of darkness into His righteous paths (Jn. 8:12; Ps. 23:3; Is. 42:6, 16). If we trust and follow, the potter will mold us into what He wills. Just follow the Lord (Mk. 1:17; Lk. 6:40).
[1] Jesus prefaces His statement with the words, “Truly, truly, I say to you” (v18), just as He did in 13:38 regarding Peter’s denials. Just as those words surely came to pass, so he understood this will also come to pass.
[2] Stretch out the hands and be girded (or “tied” [Lexham Bible]) are widely understood to describe crucifixion (Andrea Köstenberger, John [Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004], 598). The cross is the “kind of death” of v19.