Overview:
John 21:17–23
Thankfully, Jesus hasn’t called us to be like dominoes, tripping over ourselves and causing a series of terrible events to occur to everyone around us when we take our eyes off Him.
Chuck Swindoll teaches the importance of following Jesus as diligent disciples. You will learn some valuable lessons from the story of Peter, who took his eyes off Jesus.
Message Summary:
In this final message on the Gospel of John, Chuck Swindoll addresses the essential challenge of the Christian life: keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus rather than on our past failures or the lives of those around us. Using the childhood game of “Follow the Leader” as a metaphor, the sermon illustrates how easily believers stumble when they take their eyes off the Lord to focus on others.
The message centers on Jesus’ intimate restoration of Peter in John 21. Despite Peter’s public denial of Christ, Jesus commissions him to “tend My sheep,” teaching that past failures can be forgiven in love and that no one needs to quit because of a “loser image”. Swindoll uses the story of Charles Colson—the former “White House hatchet man” turned believer—to illustrate how God breaks strong-willed men to remake them for His glory.
The sermon outlines four practical lessons derived from Peter’s conversation with Jesus. First, believers must accept forgiveness and refuse to quit. Second, because our present lifestyle guarantees nothing about the future, we must live with submission rather than arrogant prediction. Third, personal obedience is an individual matter; when Peter asks, “Lord, what about this man?” regarding the apostle John, Jesus corrects him, teaching that comparison is futile and distracting. Finally, because people will often misunderstand God’s plan for us, we must learn not to worry about public opinion but remain focused solely on Christ’s command: “Follow Me”.
Message Key Facts:
- The “Loser Image”: Peter felt disqualified from ministry because of his three denials of Christ. Swindoll notes that many biblical heroes (Noah, Moses, David, Jonah) had major failures, proving that God’s grace covers a multitude of sins.
- The Golden Gate Bridge Illustration: During the first phase of building the Golden Gate Bridge, 23 men fell to their deaths, paralyzing the workforce with fear. After a $100,000 safety net was installed, 10 men were saved, and work proceeded 25% faster. Swindoll uses this to illustrate how the “safety net” of God’s grace provides security that actually improves our service rather than encouraging license.
- Peter’s Death: Citing Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, Swindoll recounts that Peter was eventually martyred in AD 61 under Nero. Feeling unworthy to die exactly as his Lord did, Peter requested to be crucified upside down.
- The Danger of Comparison: Swindoll calls comparison “the favorite indoor sport of Christians.” Whether comparing salaries, children, or ministries, looking at others distracts from the individual call Jesus places on each life.
- Chuck Colson: The sermon highlights the transformation of Charles Colson, who went from a ruthless political operative to a man who found freedom in prison through Christ, illustrating that a “broken” past does not preclude future usefulness.
Message References:
- John 21:15–17: Jesus restores Peter, asking “Do you love Me?” three times and commanding him to “Tend My sheep”.
- John 21:18–19: Jesus predicts Peter’s future martyrdom, indicating that in old age, Peter would be led where he did not wish to go.
- John 21:20–22: Peter compares himself to John (“What about this man?”), and Jesus rebukes him, emphasizing individual obedience.
- John 21:23: The rumor spreads among the brethren that John would not die, illustrating how easily God’s word is misunderstood.
- James 4:13–16: A warning against arrogantly predicting the future, reminding believers that life is a “vapor” and we should say, “If the Lord wills”.
