John the apostle wrote how Jesus told Peter, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, When you were young, you girded yourself, and walked wherever you would: but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall gird you, and carry you where you would not. This spoke he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said unto him, Follow me”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty of his book John shared how Peter, “turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following” where we read:
Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you?
The verse begins, “Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following;” John began with the words, “then Peter turning about” which means “at that time Peter whose name means a little rock or stone turning himself back”, “saw the disciple whom Jesus loved” or “observed, beheld, noticed and discerned the student, pupil and attendant who Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation was fond of, well pleased and contented with and dearly loved” “following” which means “accompanying, joining and siding with Jesus and Peter”. John shared how “Peter” turned around and noticed that “John the apostle who Jesus loved” was “accompanying” them.
The verse goes on to say, “which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you?” John continued with the words, “which also leaned on his breast” or “who even so and indeed did lie upon his, Jesus', chest” “at supper” which means “at the time for eating food in a formal meal taken at evening”, “and said, Lord” or “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked Jesus who is the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “which is he that betrays you” which means “who is he, the one disciple, that would deliver you, Jesus, over treacherously to be condemned, punished, scourged, tormented and put to death”. John shared how he himself was the one who “lie” upon Jesus' chest at the “last supper” and asked him which of His disciples was going to “betray” Him.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” turned around and noticed “John” was accompanying him and Jesus. John felt it necessary not to name himself, but rather referred to the time he was “leaning” on Jesus' chest at the “last passover meal” when John asked Jesus who would “betray” Him. We shall see how “Peter” begins to speak about “John” in our next verse, but for now let it suffice us to remember Jesus' instruction to “follow” Him rather than have our eyes fixed upon someone else. God desires an individual and personal relationship with every person, and when they submit their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and provide them with a purpose and plan to be fulfill in His Kingdom. Let all who read these words “follow” Jesus and keep their eyes upon Him rather than others.
Next time John shares how Peter asked Jesus, “what shall this man do?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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