In the final chapter of John's gospel, following the account of the 153 fish (representing the full number of Gentiles gathered up at the end of the Church age; Rom. 11:25; cf. Matt. 13:47–50), Jesus gives us a prophetic glimpse into Peter's future:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you were girding yourself and were walking to where you willed, but when you are old, you will stretch forth your hands, and another will gird you, and will carry [you] to where you do not will”; and this He said, signifying by what death he will glorify God; and having said this, He says to him, “Follow Me . . .” (Jn. 21:18–19, LSV)

John reveals that Jesus' words to Peter signify the manner of his death, “...you will stretch forth your hands...”  The phrase “stretch forth” is a single verb in the Greek text, ekteino (Strong's 1614). The first occurrence of this term is found in Matt. 8:3, where Jesus compassionately extends, or stretches out, His hand to heal a leper. In the majority of instances within the synoptic Gospels, this particular verb is used in reference to Jesus extending His hand in love and compassion toward someone in need (or vice versa, someone is extending their hand toward Jesus for help and healing). However, there is a curious exception found in Matthew's account:

...Then having come near, they laid hands on Jesus, and took hold on Him. And behold, one of those with Jesus, having stretched forth [ekteino] the hand, drew his sword, and having struck the servant of the chief priest, he took off his ear. Then Jesus says to him, “Turn back your sword to its place; for all who took the sword will perish by the sword; do you think that I am not able now to call on My Father, and He will place beside Me more than twelve legions of messengers? How then may the Writings be fulfilled, that thus it must happen?” (Matt. 26:50–54, LSV).

Interestingly, the same John who writes that Peter will stretch forth his hands in death is also the only one to out Peter as the offending disciple who physically and forcefully tries to save Jesus from being arrested and put to death (Jn. 18:10). Ouch! 

Now then, fast forward about 30 years after these humbling scenes from the Gospels. Peter, the same person who once stretched forth his hand to strike down the authorities coming to arrest Jesus and fulfill Scripture, is older and wiser—a seasoned elder, in fact (1 Pet. 5:1). Far removed from the impetuous actions of his youth, Peter provides wisdom from experience in his first epistle to a broad Gentile audience. And in Week 4 of the 1 Peter series, we are going to discuss our response as God's servants to unjust governing authorities—yes, even the extremely vile and repulsive kind (like Nero).

In order to truly fulfill our calling, Finish Strong, and follow in the footsteps of Christ (1 Pet. 2:21), we must listen to and heed these words from Peter about keeping our prideful flesh in check, submitting to governing authorities, and entrusting everything to the Father, knowing that He will avenge and dole out justice on His terms and in His time (1 Pet. 2:12, 17, 23).

Follow along as we walk through 1 Peter 2:12–25: