John 21 - Jesus' prophesy

The last story is very interesting. After Jesus prophesies about Peter's future Peer looks back and sees John. He asks, "What about him?"

The whole passage seems to have been written in response to a rumor that John would never die. Jesus is rumored to have said that in prophesy. So John tells this story to put the statement into context. Then he explains clearly what Jesus did not mean.

John can speak to what Jesus did not say. But he cannot speak to what happened because at his writing it has not happened yet. Actually by the time of this writing Peter probably has been martyred. But John cannot totally explain what Jesus did mean.

It is pretty certain that Jesus' prophesy did come to be. John lived a lot longer than Peter. John died as a very old man in exile on a small island. While Peter was crucified in Rome much earlier.

Peter felt it would be presumptuous to die exactly like his Lord did so requested to be crucified up side down. That had to add to the agony of the death. Peter did not have to do that. I understand his feeling. Yet I dod not think God required that of him. It was a misguided "work".

I think many people do more than God requires in a misguided attempt to somehow gain more approval or even appease God. This shows a lack of understand of God's nature. God cannot love us or approve of us more than he does now. All we have to do is follow him.