(&) Some think that *' Follow Me " must be interpreted spir- itually, and that our Lord used the expression as a kind of watchword for Peter's course in life from that day forward. " Walk in my steps. Do as I have done. Follow Me whither- soever I lead thee, even though it be to prison and death."
I see no reason why we should not adopt both views. There is such a depth and fulness in our Lord's sayings, that I think we may safely do so. I therefore think it most probable that our Lord not only meant, " Arise, and follow Me now ; " but also meant, " Always follow Me through life, whatever be the consequences." After all, Christ's three great words to Chris- tians are, " Come to Me, — Learn of Me, — and Follow Me." (Matt. xi. 28, 29.)
Is there not in the words, " Follow Me," a latent reference to the remarkable saying of our Lord to Peter, on the night that Peter denied Him thrice : " Whither I go, thou canst not fol- low Me now ; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards." (John xiii. 36.)
20. — [Then Peter, turning, seetli, etc.] This verse brings in the Apostle John Himself, described with more than usual feeling and particularity, as " the disciple whom Jesus loved, and who leaned on his breast at supper," as if to prevent the possibility of mistake.
The expressions, " turning," and " following," seem to me to place it beyond doubt, that our Lord began to move away from the scene of the social meal, when He said, " Follow Me." No other view can explain them. There was a movement in a certain direction. As our Lord moved away, Peter followed Him. As he followed, Peter turned round, and saw John fol- lowing also. After John, I believe, the other five disciples followed also, or else they could hardly have heard the re- markable saying about "tarrying till 1 come," which they evi- dently did hear.
Tittman suggests that " When Peter saw John following he was displeased, as Jesus had ordered Peter alone to follow, with the intention of saying something to him apart. He therefore asked why Jesus permitted John to follow unbid- den."— He then thinks, if we adopt this interpretation, that the remarkable words of the following verse may only mean, — " If I wish him to remain with the other disciples until I return to them, that is no business of thine. Just follow Me." — This however seems to me rather a tame interpretation.
Stier observes, " There was something wrong at first in Pe- ter's act of turning himself. He was commanded to follow, and not to look around. Thus there was certainly an uncalled- for, and not artless, looking aside, a side-glance once more of comparison with others I After his deep humiliation here ia Btill some light trace of the ancient Simon."