John 21:18–19

In the next part of Christs conference with Peter, he warnes him of his future sufferings, promising that he should prove more stout then in his former trial. This he propounds more darkly, v. 18. and alluding to the custome of these Easterne people, who, wearing long garments, did gird them up by binding their loines when they went to a journey; and to the custome of binding malefactours, when they were carried from place to place, or to the place of execution) He sheweth a great difference that should be betwixt his case in youth and in old age. In his youth, he girded up his loines, and walked at his own pleasure, but in his old age, others should binde him, and carry him, whether his natural inclination did not lead him. And in v. 19. he explains this, shewing that he spake of his violent death, sweetning it with this consideration, that hereby he should glorifie God, and commanding him presently to follow him. Whence learn, 1. Love to Christ must be evidenced, not only by active doing of duty, but by suffering also unto death, if we be called unto it; And Ministers especially, when they undertake the charge of Christs flock, ought to lay their account for such a lot: Therefore is this prediction joyned with the former injunction, as another proof of Peters love to Christ. 2. The matter of suffering would not be lightly thought upon, but we should have grave and serious thoughts of it, that afflictions in some measure abide us, that it is our duty to resolve for the worst, and that suffering will indeed try us, and therefore we should be laying up for such a strait; for these causes doth he begin this doctrine with a grave asseveration, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, &c. 3. There will be great difference betwixt a Saint trusting in his own strength, and the same Saint leaning upon, and supported by God; he who before durst not look a damosel in the face, will in the other case, dare to look death in the face; for, so appeared in Peter, of whom Christ foretels this, when he is minding him of his former failing. 4. As it is the duty of Saints alwayes to look on suffering for Christ as their great honour, Acts 5.41. so in particular, when a Saint is indeed penitent for his shifting of suffering, and sliding in a time of trial, it will be his great comfort to know that he shall have the honour to suffer, and be born through in it; that (so to say) he may be avenged on trial for his two eyes; for, here it is held out for Peters encouragement, that Christ will employ him, who had proven so weak, yet to suffer unto death for his Name; as a souldier who is shamefully beaten, desires nothing so much as another day, wherein he may shew his valour and repair his credit. 5. As nature hath an antipathy at death, and particularly, a violent death; so Saints have not an inclination to suffering, ready to let out at their pleasure, till God give them victory and resolution; Therefore is his suffering called anothers girding, him, and carrying him whither he would not; not only shewing that naturally he would be averse from it, or, that he would have no hand in his own suffering and death, but that, take him in his own resolutions and inclinations, and he would decline such a lot, though grace made him submit, and stretch out his hands, that they might gird him, and this sheweth, how needfull it is that the most resolute of men do seek willingnesse from Christ, lest their natural inclinations prevail; And, that even where there is a natural antipathy and fear of death and suffering, yet Christ may make eminent and resolute Martyrs of them, they depending on him, as many Martyrs who have been long exercised with the feare of death, have found in experience. 6. The thing which nature, especially while men are young and in vigour would still be at; is to be their own Masters, not subject to the Law of God, nor to the tossing Providences about the world: for, this was Peters way, and what he delighted in then, when thou wast young, thou girded thy self, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: He was his own man, and delighted to walk as he pleased, and at randome and liberty. 7. Men may expect strange changes in their lots and exercises, in the several turnes of their life, before they go off the world; and particularly, when men engage themselves in Christs service, they may expect a strange change to follow on it; Not only will their consciences within them curb their extravigant and lawlesse walking, but whereas there were none before to trouble them, now there must be nothing but bonds and death for them. So much doth this opposition betwixt Peters lot, in his youth, and old age, teach us. When thou wast young, thou girdedst thy self, &c. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy bands, &c. 8. That Christ promisseth he shall not suffer till he be old; He teacheth, partly, that the timing of his peoples suffering is in his hand, and he can, when he pleaseth, give them a faire time, wherein to serve him, before he call them to seal the truth by their sufferings; for, Peter is old before they gird him, &c. See Luke 13.31, 32. and partly, That Christ may call his people to suffer, when their visible ability is least, that so the power carrying them through may be seen to be of him: Therefore also doth he suffer when he is old, when albeit old age might quench many lusts in him, and experience and time might settle him, yet his natural vigour was decayed; and feares, usually accompanying old age, might retard him. 9. Christ would have his doctrine distinctly taken up and understood by hearers; therefore, as Peter understood this well enough, so John explains it for our use, shewing that Christ spake of Peters death, in these termes. 10. The sufferings of Saints do contribute to set out the glory of God; the glory of the truth of the Word, when they are ready to seal it with their blood, and to stand to the defence thereof unto death; The glory of the truth, and riches of his promises, and of eternal life held out therein, when they hazard on the enmity and opposition of all, and on death it self, in the faith and hope thereof, and do look on eternal life as sufficient to compense all their losses; and, The glory of his excellency and alsufficiency, when they count all things but vanity and losse, that they may please him, and so they proclaim their faith to be richly made up in him; therefore, saith he, that by his death he should glorifie God. 11. The consideration that God is glorified by any lot, should put a lovely face upon it, were it even suffering a violent death to Saints; Therefore is this propounded as the lovely sight of his suffering, that hereby he should glorifie God. See John 12.28. 12. Saints ought to give proof of their sincere resolutions for sufferings, by their close following of Christ in their present service; Therefore doth Christ subjoyne, And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Where it appears from v. 20. that Christ rose from the rest of the company, and went away, when he gave this command. And this he did, not so much for any present journey, as by calling him to obey this present command, to leave all his enjoyments and company, and follow him whereever he goeth, he takes proof of his sincerity, and whether he is resolved indeed to follow Christ in suffering, when he shall be called to it, and would have him begin to practise that lesson in time, that he might be the more fit for it, when it came to a push: and so we will finde it made use of, v. 20. 13. It is the duty of such as would either serve or suffer for Christ, to make him their pattern and copy in what is imitable; and it is their encouragement, and may sweeten their way, that he hath gone before them: Therefore also bids he him, follow me, to point out, not so much his duty of present going after him, as thereby to signifie his duty to imitate Christ in all his actions, particularly, in his care of his sheep, and resolution for suffering; and to hold out this encouragement, and how it might be sweet to follow him.