offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended",[1383] followed
by his denial that he had ever known the Man.[1384] To the Lord's
inquiry Peter answered humbly, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love
thee." Then said Jesus, "Feed my lambs." The question was repeated; and
Peter replied in identical words, to which the Lord responded, "Feed my
sheep." And yet the third time Jesus asked, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest
thou me?" Peter was pained and grieved at this reiteration, thinking
perhaps that the Lord mistrusted him; but as the man had three times
denied, so now was he given opportunity for a triple confession. To the
thrice repeated question, Peter answered: "Lord, thou knowest all
things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him. Feed my
sheep."

The commission "Feed my sheep" was an assurance of the Lord's
confidence, and of the reality of Peter's presidency among the apostles.
He had emphatically announced his readiness to follow his Master even to
prison and death. Now, the Lord who had died said unto him: "Verily,
verily; I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and
walkedst whither thou wouldst: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt
stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee
whither thou wouldst not." John informs us that the Lord so spake
signifying the death by which Peter should find a place among the
martyrs; the analogy points to crucifixion, and traditional history is
without contradiction as to this being the death by which Peter sealed
his testimony of the Christ.

Then said the Lord to Peter, "Follow me." The command had both immediate
and future significance. The man followed as Jesus drew apart from the
others on the shore; yet a few years and Peter would follow his Lord to
the cross. Without doubt Peter comprehended the reference to his
martyrdom, as his writings, years later, indicate.[1385] As Christ and
Peter walked together, the latter, looking backward, saw that John was
following, and inquired: "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Peter
wished to peer into the future as to his companion's fate--was John also
to die for the faith? The Lord replied: "If I will that he tarry till I
come, what is that to thee? follow thou me." It was an admonition to
Peter to look to his own course of duty, and to follow the Master,
wherever the road should lead.

Concerning himself, John adds: "Then went this saying abroad among the
brethren, that