One day while meeting with His disciples by the sea of Galilee (Tiberias), Jesus asked Simon Peter a heart-searching question when He asked, “Do you love Me?” (John 21:17). Then the risen Lord told His disciple Peter that his future would lead to martyrdom (John 21:18-19). And Peter accepted that destiny without complaint.
But then Peter asked about the apostle John’s future (John 21:21). We can only speculate what motivated his question. Was it brotherly concern? Was it fleshly curiosity? Was it resentment because he thought that John might be spared a martyr’s death?
Whatever Peter’s motive, Jesus responded with a counter-question that applied not just to Peter but to every disciple: “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:22). In that question, Jesus was saying in essence, “Peter, don’t worry about what happens in the life of anybody else. Your task is to keep steadfastly following Me, no matter what.”
Beloved, at times, it’s easy to let our relationship with the Lord be overly influenced by the behavior and experiences of others. But we must not compare ourselves with anyone else (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:12-18) . Through the conflicting voices that surround us, we must keep hearing the Savior’s clear command — “You follow Me.”
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
But then Peter asked about the apostle John’s future (John 21:21). We can only speculate what motivated his question. Was it brotherly concern? Was it fleshly curiosity? Was it resentment because he thought that John might be spared a martyr’s death?
Whatever Peter’s motive, Jesus responded with a counter-question that applied not just to Peter but to every disciple: “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:22). In that question, Jesus was saying in essence, “Peter, don’t worry about what happens in the life of anybody else. Your task is to keep steadfastly following Me, no matter what.”Beloved, at times, it’s easy to let our relationship with the Lord be overly influenced by the behavior and experiences of others. But we must not compare ourselves with anyone else (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:12-18) . Through the conflicting voices that surround us, we must keep hearing the Savior’s clear command — “You follow Me.”
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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