“FOLLOW ME”
Today’s Reading: John 21 & Matthew 1
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Near Tabgha Beach, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, stands the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. This square building of black basalt, built in 1934, is where Jesus is believed to have made a third appearance to His disciples after His Resurrection. As the event is described in the 21st chapter of John’s Gospel, Peter and six other disciples had been fishing all night without catching anything. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach, though they did not recognize Him. Jesus told the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat, and the net filled with 153 fish. When the disciples dragged the net ashore, they found that Jesus had cooked them breakfast on a charcoal fire. This church is built upon a rock believed to be the place where Jesus prepared breakfast for His disciples (see photo below).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: John 21:18b,19
You will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This He [Jesus] spoke, signifying by what death he [Peter] would glorify God. And when He (Jesus) had spoken this, He said to him [Peter], “Follow Me.”
John mentions Peter five times in the final words of his Gospel, and refers to himself only as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” By the time John wrote these words, Peter had indeed stretched out his hands, and like Jesus’ hands, they were nailed to a cross. Early Church history tells us that Peter was executed by crucifixion in the city of Rome. John was there at Jesus’ death. He was the first of the Apostles to reach the empty tomb of Jesus, but he stepped back and let Peter enter first. No doubt John was also there in the High Priest’s courtyard and heard Peter deny that he knew Jesus three times. Now John sets the scene, mentioning that Jesus had fish on a charcoal fire (the only other charcoal fire mentioned in Scripture was there where Peter denied Jesus just a few days earlier). Now John writes of Jesus asking Peter three times, “Do you love Me?” Most likely, as a teenager, John, perhaps 15 years younger than Peter, fished Galilee in a boat next to Peter’s boat. Now he focuses on Peter’s total transformation. John was there when he heard Jesus call Peter, saying to him, “Follow Me!” Now he hears Jesus say again to Peter, “Follow Me!”
Jesus said, “My sheep know My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me!” Jesus says to each one of us, “Follow Me! Follow Me!” (read John 10:1-30). It may have been three weeks later that Peter, filled now with the Holy Spirit, preached the Good News of Jesus to Jewish people who had come from all over the world to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, and 3,000 believed in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord (Acts 2:14-24). Some months later, Peter was the first to bring the message of Jesus to non-Jews, starting with the Roman army officer, Cornelius, who believed in Jesus, along with his family members and neighbours (Acts 10:34-48).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
O Lord God, like Peter, I need to listen to You! I need to follow You so very very closely. I pray for grace to love You more, much more, than fishing for fish or any other legitimate human pursuit. Whatever hours, days, months or years I have to live, may I help feed Your sheep and Your lambs. May I be faithful to give the life-giving eternal food of Your Word to everyone I meet, adults and children. I make a new commitment to You, Lord Jesus, here and now, to FOLLOW YOU more closely than ever!!! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Tomorrow, God willing, we re-start our two-year journey through the Bible once again. Are you with me? A much better question is, are you with Jesus? If you are not sure, start over again with a decision to make a lifetime commitment to Him! Call a Crossroads/100 Huntley Street prayer partner, and have them record your decision. Call toll free, 1-866-273-4444. Ask that caring person who answers to send you literature which will confirm your faith in Jesus. The only way to know what Jesus thinks is to read His Word. God’s Word expresses His thoughts. I know of no other way to get God’s thoughts to be my thoughts so I can do His will at all times. John wrote about his reason for writing portions of God’s Holy Word…”These things we write to you that your joy may be full!” (read 1 John 1:1-7). Today is the 54th anniversary of the first Crossroads telecast on which I had the great honour of sharing the Good News of Jesus, June 2nd, 1962, at 11:30 p.m. It will be four years tomorrow, June 3rd, when my first blog was posted in this two-year journey through the Bible. Please, please come with me once again. Walk with me through the pages of God’s message to His human family. Also, beginning June 4th, watch for my two-minute “VLOG” (video log) of each day’s blog (a link will be provided).
Yours for commitment, consistency, and consecration to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
David
Thank You, Father God, for the call to do this blog, and for health and strength to keep it going for another two years. Thank you to all others who have helped me do this. I could not have succeeded without you!
The rock, which is incorporated into the floor of the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, is traditionally believed to be the place where Jesus prepared breakfast for His disciples. It was known to medieval pilgrims as Mensa Christ (the table of Christ).
On the shore of the Sea of Galilee, a statue depicts Jesus after His death and Resurrection, appearing before Peter. He asked Peter three times, “Do you love Me?…feed My sheep” (John 21 15-17).
Praise God through whom all blessings flow. Thank you David, for another two year journey through the Bible–that keeps us in the Word and faithfully in daily relationship and communication with our God almighty. Looking forward to your addition of a two minute vlog. Read/hear the Word and it will transform and renew your life. Blessings dearest saints in the Lord.
“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”
Psalm 33:20-22
Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) [Official Lyric Video] – Hillsong Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiyYoe678yI
Thank you Beverlee!
Congratulations David and Norma Jean on the anniversary of the founding of a Canadian treasure (Canada AM shut down this AM – “fresh bread” at 100words & Huntley continues because people give to God…) Thanks so much for building God’s word into my life and into our family –
love you – Lorna
Dear Karen, from yesterday. We will never understand why some of us are stricken with suffering, and others aren’t. We can only look to the Bible and think of Paul and all the afflictions he endured and yet he sang praises and proclaimed his faith and undying love for Jesus–shouting from the rooftops as loudly as he could so all would hear about the Lord. Thankfully, we have the books of the Bible based on his account, which we rely on, today. It is there for you, dear sister-in-Christ. Claim Jesus’ love for you. Call the prayer lines that are in David’s message, today. Reclaim your relationship with Jesus Christ. Read the Word and listen to (daily audio bible with Brian Hardin https://dailyaudiobible.com/) everyday. Call to God in prayer and ask angels to be with you and they will. Hold on and don’t let go. The incredible miracle of it all is that Jesus loves each and every one of us exactly the same!! How mind boggling is His love for us!!! We will pray for you! God bless you, Karen, in Jesus’ precious Name, amen, amen and amen!
There was a lot of discussion in yesterday’s comments about the nature of healing and why some believers get a miracle healing and others do not. If we could understand everything about God He wouldn’t be God– and everyone who commented yesterday all made good points, but honestly when you are in the middle of a great difficulty, pain or hardship, words no matter how true often ring hollow and may or may not help with the burden of emotions, like fear, doubt, confusion and hopelessness.Therefore I realize what I am about to add may not be any better at easing the burden, but I will add it in hopes it will lead you to the one who can.
It is perfectly acceptable to question God’s love and presence in the midst of suffering, because our Lord did as well. On the cross, after enduring so much while trusting in His Father’s love and purpose to get through it all, Jesus did a very human thing, he doubted. He cried from the cross “My God, my God why you have abandoned me?” If suffering could break our Lord to believe His Father would abandon him why should we beat ourselves as believers for having a moment to question it ourselves in our suffering?
. He didn’t get an answer to His question so He was chose to trust in God’s character by faith alone–and did the only thing He could He committed His spirit to God–His circumstances told Him God wasn’t there, and His flesh died uncertain He was but Jesus in last moments of life decided to trust God’s love and goodness when circumstances what kind of Father would allow His beloved Son, who did nothing wrong to endure the worse torture and death conceived by mankind
So our questions of why me or why not me may never be answered, but no matter what it feels like, remember God hasn’t change, He is still there, He stills loves you and He will act in your lives in either a big way, or in small daily mercies that will come in the midst of your suffering. – if you don’t see the plan, if you don’t understand, if don’t see His hand–trust His heart– Amen
Dear David, I praise the Lord for your faithfulness to the blog each morning, my heart has been blessed. God willing I’m with you for another two year journey though God’s Word.
Could I ask for prayer for an old fashion ‘Tent Meeting’ here in the Town of Georgina, Ontario July 14 – 16. God has moved mountains already to make this possible, therefore I’m believing for the power of the Holy Spirit to come as it did in Acts 2: 17 – 21 and move mightly in our midst.
May hearts be revived, souls saved, bringing a great influx into the family of God. Thanks and God bless you.
God willing i am with you,thank you for doing this paster David!
David I am with you on another two years on our blog thank you , Ron, Ann and Renold who put this together and your personal words
Love the Book of John and these accounts of John and Peter. And the verse in John 20:21 is so precious and special to me, “Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be unto you: as my Father has sent me, even so send I you.” Wonderful blog again today David, ones to meditate on and prayers to pray. Left you a message on yesterday’s reply section Karen. Am looking forward to the vlog. Thank you Reynold for the photos; what a privilege you had! God blessings on all.
Every time we go through the Bible on this blog, I find information that I missed the first couple of times around! I certainly want to continue. Thanks all. My sister who was in a comma at 14 months of age from a high fever, suffered permanent and great brain damage. She has needed care her whole life and is in LTC now. She is so joyful and reaches out to some people who are in a “vegetative” state or who cannot speak, or may be of another language, and they acknowledge her! She cannot walk now but gets around slowly in her wheelchair. She speaks to people who are angry or are so hurt they don’t relate to people. It is her 73rd birthday June 7. When I remind her of making God unhappy when she “misses the mark at times” she is very thoughtful. I know the Spirit lives in her and God is using her. She will be 1st in the Kingdom after being last in this life. Donna Lea.
Beautiful testimony of your dear sister, Doreen. God is using her profoundly to help others. Thank you so much for sharing her testimony with us, Doreen. God bless you!
Yes Amen, thank you Doreen!
Will pray for your tent meetings Eleanor and would you pray for some tent meetings in Rusagonis, NB going on right now. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if these spread all across our nation and a mighty wave of the Holy Spirit blew across this land and many many would be saved, healed and delivered. It is time!!!
Amen Ger!
A great testimony of your sister Doreen. God bless her!
Brother David, what a joy you are, and your faithfulness such an inspiration and gift to all of Canada.
How God has so faithfully sustained Crossroads and ministered through His servants there is such a testimony of His goodness. So many have come to Christ and are encouraged continually through what started with your willing obedience.
May Tears of Joy flood your soul again today!
Dear David and Family…your faithfulness is so appreciated!!!I Thank-you!! Thank-you!! Thank-you!!
…am in again this third time with joy and expectation and long to witness more of HIM…my new journal has been ready and I am excited to place HIS word to page and heart and prayer…to be fed and reach outward (with HIS leading) to those in our sphere of influence and beyond…also Thank-you so much to fellow bloggers… love your insights and sharing…as difficult as some are…so may His Holy Spirit fill us anew as we continue on His journey together:)
I just want to thank you, David, for your faithfulness in preparing this study. Also, many thanks to all of the members of your family for their hard work in assisting you. It has been an amazing two years! I have especially appreciated the links to other related scriptures and the photos. God willing, I will continue for the next two years. I will continue to recommend this blog to others as an excellent resource for daily reading of God’s Word.
Looking forward to another two years
I have also told people that the blog is starting again tomorrow. Lord I pray they sign up and follow along to know how amazing You are.
Thank you for the words you give us from God’s Word everyday. I started the first year in the Book of Isaiah and as always with God’s Word, there is always something new that jumps out at us no matter how many times we have read it. I pray for the prayer requests that are mentioned daily. Thank You Lord that you hear our prayers.
Remembering you Karen. My husband is in much the same situation as you with many health problems, and he also feels that God does not hear him, especially on his bad days. He has been ill for 24 years and the progression of his diseases has made it nearly impossible to do much. But with God we know all things are possible. We can thank God for the small things which can lift our spirits everyday.
I am looking forward to another two year journey through the Bible with you David. Thank you and your family members for your daily blog. Looking forward to the coming addition of your vlog. God has preserved your life to do more of your amazing works for Him. God Bless!
yes indeed we have questions and so did Jesus! He questioned His Father also! I think it’s very healthy to question our Heavenly Father! It’s also very healthy to thank Him for each day, and every breath we take He has allowed that to happen! I would also encourage everyone to do some form of exercise! Find something you like to do and do it every day! Start tomorrow! Lift some soup cans or something else, maybe only for 30 minutes, but you did it, do that for one weeek then increase by 5 minutes per week, 1 hour every day at something you like goes very fast! The results are tremendous, blessings to everyone…….
Great idea Sah! We can all do with some exercising!! Your words are encouraging! Prayers over you Karen and others who may be suffering. The prayer line can help! Blessings to everyone!Xo
Me too, God willing I am with you…God Bless you David, and your family for another two years!