John 21:15-19 English Standard Version

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

That was Jesus speaking to Peter.

John 21:20-23 English Standard Version

Jesus and the Beloved Apostle

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

Here is a lesson about human nature. When we ask questions that have nothing to do with our calling in Christ, as Peter did, it can lead to misunderstandings, rumors and false assumptions.

Perhaps this is why Paul told us that when we are running our race we need to stay in our own lane.

Perhaps, but that is just what my Lord is telling me about what I have done.

Confession is good for the soul.

Ezekiel 17:2

“Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

The first thing we need to understand about this riddle is that it was sent to the house of Israel. Trying to solve the riddle without a deeper understanding of the conditions, beliefs and experience of the house of Israel means we are outside investigators.

Propound literally means to “tie a knot” and to solve the riddle is likened to untying the knot and examining both ends of the string or rope to see where it came from and where it is going. All strings have attachments. In this case the strings are attached to the house of Israel.

Untying the knot is a matter of discovering the truth being told by the one instructing the prophet in writing down the parable in the first place. That would be Father God.

Inverse 3 it is written “A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.”

Even before we can examine the issue of the meaning of eagle, plumage and pinions, we need to understand the relationship between the house of Israel and Lebanon at that time in history and not to attach our own personal understanding about them as we see it today. The knot was not tied today.

None of us living today were there then. Far be it from any one of us to now seek answers from historical archives that are not readily available to the common man or woman. We rely on historians who have done all the digging. What have they uncovered? Did they uncover the truth or are they mixing all the dirt they have discovered which will also contain what was laid upon the scene as a cover up. That is what dirt does, covers up the dead.

What is left for us, here today, to discover about the truth behind the reason the knot was tied in the first place?

We can always ask the author.

Now, here today, the mysteries have been unraveled by the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ to the right hand throne of God. He has sent us the Spirit of truth to speak only truth.

What if His answer to our question on this matter comes back to us in the Word of God?

“If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

Some of us seek answers to questions we shouldn’t be asking.