“And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ’Follow Me’ ” (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19),
and Peter followed with no hesitation. The irresistible attraction of
Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do
it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart
broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, “Follow
Me” (John 21:19).
Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first
“Follow Me” was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus
is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see John 21:18).
Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75).
But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his
self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on
again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all
that the risen Lord had for him. “. . . He breathed on them, and said to
them, ’Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22).
No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them.
Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He
gives.
All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no
power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just
mentally but completely, we are able to “receive the Holy Spirit.” “Receive the Holy Spirit “— the idea is that of invasion. There is now only One who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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