Johannine scholars have long belabored over the semantic exchange of the love verbs ἀγαπάω and φιλέω in John 21 as Jesus restored Peter. While such a study is interesting, its narrow focus tends to overlook the Fourth Gospel’s larger theme of suffering-believers which finds its terminus in the same narrative personified in the same disciple. In John 21:15–19, the conversation between Jesus and Peter, ending with the prediction of Peter’s martyrdom, is the most intimate dialogue to emerge and contains the clearest promise of affliction-with-glory given to any character in John’s Gospel. A textual aside in 21:19 explains that Peter’s death is intended to “glorify God,” and concludes by offering a haunting command that even through death, Peter was to “follow” Jesus (cf. v. 22).
With this final exchange between Jesus and Peter serving as a backdrop, supported by textual analysis of the verbs ἀκολουθέω (“follow”) and δοξάζω (“glorify”) governing the pericope, this paper will argue that John intentionally finalized his logic of Christian suffering by signifying that Peter—representing followers of Jesus in any age—was to glorify God by following Jesus through suffering and unto death. The significance of the thesis is both theologically and practically relevant as Peter’s later death on a cross, as evidenced by ancient testimonies, is not condemnation but exaltation. Through Peter’s paradox of pain, a lesson emerges for Christians today that their trauma can glorify—even reveal—their God’s presence in moments of affliction. Ultimately, the theme of affliction in John 21 serves as revelatory paradigm of purposeful suffering that teaches amid any tribulation, Christians are to follow Christ through it.