Saturday 27 December 2025
After this he said to him, "Follow me." (v. 19b)
Background
We end this week of celebrating ‘The Coming Light’ with another feast day, that of John, Evangelist, the writer (or 'writers' as there may have been more than one author) of John's Gospel.
The passage chosen for this day comes from the very end of the gospel, following on from the conversation that the resurrected Jesus had with Peter on the shore of the lake, after sharing breakfast with a group of disciples. So, on the third day of the Christmas season, we are also in the season of resurrection, bringing together these two fundamental events of the Christian faith.
Jesus has just inferred to Peter that he will, at some unspecified point in the future, die by crucifixion. Apparently turning from that conversation Jesus repeats to Peter the first words he ever spoke to Peter (according to Matthew and Mark): "Follow me" (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17). But Peter is still mulling over Jesus' previous statement and so it is natural for him, as he sees John nearby, to ask what that disciple’s fate will be. The answer is ambiguous (perhaps Jesus doesn’t want Peter to turn the conversation to someone else) but it has led to much puzzlement from the 1st century until today. In verse 23 it seems that the gospel writer(s) are wanting to clarify that Jesus did not state that John would not die before the return of Christ – perhaps because John has now died or is about to do so.
However, as it is John’s feast day today, not Peter’s, let's focus on the character identified here by his position and actions at the Last Supper (John 13:23-25). In verse 24 of our current chapter, the writer(s) of John's Gospel clearly want their readers to identify the author of the gospel with John, son of Zebedee, one of the 12 disciples who accompanied Jesus throughout his earthly ministry. (Writing of ‘we’ in that same verse could indicate that it is a group of writers which was responsible for the final putting together of the gospel and is now adding a kind of footnote of authentication.)
Whatever the mechanics of gospel-writing, the message is that the gospel faithfully conveys the message and testimony of ‘John’ with the purpose of providing a record for believers long after ‘John’ has died. The writer ends by making clear that even this powerful gospel is only a small part of the many actions and words of Jesus.
To Ponder:
- How helpful, or otherwise, do you find it to bring this post-resurrection story into your Christmas festivities?
- Have you, like Peter in this story, ever wanted to deflect the attention of Jesus away from yourself onto someone else? Why? What happened?
- Where does John's Gospel sit in your appreciation of Scripture? Perhaps you have time today to read more than the closing chapter – what are the highlights that have helped you follow Christ?
Prayer (From StF 366: ‘Thou hidden source of calm repose’)
"Jesus, my all in all thou art: my rest in toil, my ease in pain, the medicine of my broken heart, in war my peace, in loss my gain, my smile beneath the tyrant's frown, in shame my glory and my crown." Amen.
Bible notes author: Jill Baker
Jill Baker is a Local Preacher and tutor in the Methodist Church in Scotland, now living in Stirlingshire, surrounded by mountains and lochs.