Following Jesus All the Way
Month 12: Risen & Sending · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 21:19-22
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.” 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”
Memory Verse
“Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”— John 21:17 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 1 John 5; 2 John 1; 3 John 1; Jude 1
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Near Day 358 of 365 — "These things I have written... that you may know that you have eternal life.")The Heart of It
Jesus tells Peter, "Follow Me." And right away Peter turns, sees John walking behind them, and asks, "But Lord, what about him?" It's so human. We've barely heard our own orders before we start sizing them up against everyone else's. Maybe John gets an easier path. Maybe his calling looks more exciting. Jesus' answer is loving but firm. "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." In other words, your brother's journey is My business, not yours. Don't get all tangled up comparing. Keep your eyes on Me, and follow.
This is a good place to close out the week. It gathers up everything we've seen on this shore. Breakfast made by grace. A failure restored. Three times Jesus asked, "Do you love Me?" Three times He said, "Feed My sheep." A hard road promised, with His presence sure. And now, the simple, lifelong call that started it all and never changes. "You follow Me." Following Jesus isn't a one-time decision we make and file away. It's a daily turning toward Him. We follow Him through failures and second chances. Through ordinary mornings and hard roads. We refuse to get distracted by comparison. And we follow all the way to the end. That's the disciple's life. That's what this whole year has been about.
Around the Table
Peter wanted to know what his friend John would do. But Jesus said, "You just follow Me!" We each follow Jesus ourselves.
Let's do it: Take turns being the "leader" while everyone follows — then say together, "I will follow Jesus!"
Peter compared himself to John. Jesus said, "Don't worry about his path. Follow Me on yours."
Let's talk: When do you compare yourself to others? How does it feel? What did Jesus say to do instead?
"You follow Me" is the last command in John's Gospel. And it's the whole point of the book. Comparison steals our focus from the only One worth following.
Let's go deeper: Looking back over this year in the Gospels, what's one way you want to follow Jesus more closely in the year ahead?
💬 Conversation Starter
When do you most catch yourself comparing your life to someone else's? What would change if you kept your eyes on Jesus instead?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
John's Gospel doesn't end with a sales pitch. It ends with an honest invitation and an eyewitness signature (). This is a faith confident enough to show its leaders' flaws. It's confident enough to offer its readers a free choice. "You follow Me." That's a faith telling the truth, not forcing it. We hold it out the very same way. We give reasons, and we give an invitation, "with gentleness and respect" ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
"What about him?" is the question that quietly poisons many a disciple, and many a dad. Comparison will tell you another father has more obedient kids. A smoother marriage. A more "successful" walk with God. And it will pull your eyes off the one path Jesus has actually given you to walk. Notice that Jesus doesn't explain Himself, and He doesn't rank the two callings. He simply turns Peter back. "You follow Me." Your job is not to run John's race. It's to follow Jesus faithfully in your own home, with your own five, on your own road. As you close this month on the resurrection and the sending, recommit to that one focus. Lead from your knees. Keep your eyes on Christ. Let your children watch a father who isn't comparing. He's just following, all the way. The most powerful discipleship you'll ever do is to be visibly, unshakably devoted to following Jesus yourself.
Draws on: Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, thank You for calling each of us to follow You. Keep our eyes on You. Help us not to compare ourselves to others. Help our whole family follow You faithfully, all the way to the end. Stay with us through every failure and every hard road. In Jesus' name, amen."
Whatever anyone else's path looks like, my calling is the same simple, daily one. "You follow Me."