John 21:19 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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John 21:19

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Even as John writes these words, Peter has been dead for over 30 years. He was executed some time between AD 64 and 68 in the time of Nero and this is written 30 years after that. The prophecy has already been fulfilled. Naturally we ask, in what way does the execution of Peter glorify God? How does it show the greatness of God if Peter is, say, crucified? Well, in a number of ways. Obviously like any death of a Christian it glorifies God because of the souls that have been touched through your life. It is the glorious end of a chapter of service for the Lord in this fallen world. When you hear a testimony of salvation, any number of Christian people may have been instrumental in it in some way.And then Peter would have glorified the Lord obviously by his stand. Even Roman officials and statesmen wondered at the death of Christians and marvelled and said: See how these Christians die! It was a testimony, the death of the martyr, to their sincerity and their earnestness and the reality of their experience with Christ. It is a testimony to us, centuries later. Those apostles, most of them were martyred, not all, but most of them. That tells us that they really had seen the Lord. Their witness which was their main task and they would die for it. So they have verified the Scripture to us and that glorifies God.The death of a Christian martyr also makes devils tremble. The world of the demons of darkness and Satan himself base much of their hostility to God on the conviction that all Christian people are phonies, frauds. As Satan said of Job of old – ‘He only loves you because of what he gets from you. If I take everything from him, he will curse you and die.’ And he was permitted in that singular instance to take everything from Job, and yet he did not curse God and die, he held on, and his sufferings proved that he really did have a hold on the Lord. So the death of a faithful Christian, makes devils tremble, it shakes the very pillars of their deformed, distorted faith.Follow my example, obey my words, care for the people, be prepared to sacrifice and never deny me again.

Application

Well, are we engaged in the Lord’s work, in witness, in prayer, in cooperation in the many ventures and undertakings we have together? Are we serving the Lord? Do you teach Sunday school, visit the doors, or serve in a supporting role, or do you swell the ranks at the prayer meeting and in private prayer? Are you assisting in the salvation of your children by keeping the peace at home, and loving your wife as you should, and loving your husband as you should, and settling all disputes in a proper way as believers ought to do? Or are you putting on a bad demonstration, exhibition of the Christian life before the children which will put them off and distract them in some way or other? May the death of each believer be the close of a glorious chapter, your contribution to the bringing of the elect, your triumph, souls have been won.

They are a challenge, martyrs, all Christians who die with a clear testimony, are a witness to those Christians who lag behind, who waver. And all of us do at some period of our lives. We flounder and we trail behind the standards, and then we see those who take a clear stand and are convinced and deeply convicted. And it makes us ashamed, and it pulls us up, and we go before God and rededicate ourselves to him.

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John 21:19 Commentary and Bible Study