What is That to You? You Follow Me. John 21:20-23

Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

This exchange between the Lord Jesus and Peter took place immediately after Jesus had restored Peter. Peter, we remember had denied the Lord three times just before the Crucifixion and here, Jesus applies to Peter a threefold restoration. 

It was in the very next verses that we read of Peter's inquiry about the Lord's plans for John (the disciple whom Jesus loved). Jesus' reply was simple. In essence, the Lord told Peter that it really wasn't his business. If Jesus had this plan or that plan for John, what difference does that make for Peter? Peter is simply admonished to follow Jesus for himself, and not worry too much about what the Lord may have for another. 

For myself, I confess that this has been a liberating thought. In the past, I would stress about how God is working in this ministry or that movement, or the church up the road. How is God present over there, where they do or believe weird things!? Or how can that guy have a calling from God when he doesn't think or behave the way I would? Or how is it that God worked in the past when people had completely different values or were so blind about this issue or that issue?

Now it's true that there are times when a person, ministry, or church is clearly out of bounds biblically - whether in doctrine, practice, or behavior. But just as often, if not more so, sometimes we just have to conclude that it's none of our business what God did or is doing in other parts of the world or what He did with other Christians in the past. My goal is simply to follow Jesus where He has me right now. 

Of course, we can't press this too far. We do need to be concerned with and praying for other Christians in our direct sphere of influence. God may indeed be bringing two or more Christians together into a single plan. My point is that each of us is to follow Jesus for ourselves. The Lord is leading each of us in His sovereign will. While we will intersect with other Christians on numerous occasions, ultimately we must not worry ourselves too much about the big picture plans Jesus has for others. We must simply follow Him. Amen.