Dear Explorer,
Read John 21:20-23
Jesus had just re-commissioned Peter for ministry and told him that he would one day die a martyr's death. What a special time of intimacy with Jesus. Apparently, they were walking along the beach at the Sea of Galilee while they were talking. How sweet it must have been to be walking and talking with Jesus again. Look! Squirrel!
What distracted Peter?
I am amazed at how suddenly Satan can get my attention distracted. Sometimes I'm really, really engaged in a deep discussion with Jesus, when, Look! Squirrel! Suddenly, I'm thinking about something totally different.
It's no wonder that Jesus told us to go into a prayer closet to pray! But even there, Satan has a way of interrupting our thoughts.
I want to encourage you to minimize distractions, certainly. But when you get interrupted – just confess it. God understands. Then ask Him to help you to focus on Him again. If you give up at the first (or 2nd or 22nd) distraction, then Satan has won the battle. You will find that the more intimate and important the discussion – the more distractions will come. So, just acknowledge them and don't let them mess up that special time.
But back to our passage. (Did I get distracted?) Peter saw John walking behind them, and his mind went to a question. What was it?
As you tie Peter's question to what Jesus had just told him, you'll see that he was asking, “If I'm going to have a terrible death, then how will John die?”
What was Jesus' answer?
Because of this answer, some rumors started. What were they?
But what Jesus was telling Peter was a big key in our walk with Jesus. Think about it and we'll discuss it tomorrow. What do you think Jesus meant by this answer?