“Follow me!” ( John 21: 19 )

Mark was Peter’s secretary.  The following was how he recorded the first calling of Peter. ‘As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, catching fish with a net.  Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch men.” ‘ ( Mark: 1: 16-17 )

The second time when Jesus asked Peter to follow him happened also along the shore of Lake Galilee, but after His resurrection.  Before predicting how Peter would die, Jesus asked him three times, ‘Do you love me?’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘I am telling you the truth: when you were young, you used to get ready and go anywhere you wanted to; but  when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will bind you and take you where you don’t want to go.’
Both ‘being a fisherman of men’ and ‘being a martyr’ are a calling, a mission.

An interesting incident followed when Peter asked, ‘Lord, what about John?’ Jesus’ answer arouses our thought, ‘If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you?  Follow me!’

God’s has given each of us a unique arrangement.  In fact, all apostles were martyred to witness for Jesus.  The only exception was John who had to look after Mary, mother of Jesus.

To follow the Lord was accepting an invitation, a share of God’s grace, and also a challenge.  The kingdom of God is taken by force!