Let's pick up now with verse 20.
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. [This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”]
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” (v 21)
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (See John 21:20-25)
Let's go back up to verse 21.
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Peter asked Jesus an important question that day. One that requires a little more attention on our part at this time. "Lord, what about him?"
How often do we ask Jesus that same question? "Lord, what about him?" Or..."Lord, what about her?" "Do you seeing what he is doing?" Do you see what she is doing?" "Do you seeing what he is not doing?" Do you see what she is not doing?"
Did you notice Jesus' first response to Peter though? “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
In this particular instance, Peter is very much like many of us within the body of Christ. He seemed to care more about the other disciple's response or lack of response to Jesus. He was too concerned about the other man's response and not his own response to the Son of God. In part, he was comparing himself to the other disciple. He was too busy thinking about the other person's business and not taking care of his Father's business.
It is much more important to concentrate and focus on what Jesus is telling us than being concerned about what others are doing or not doing for Jesus. We need to pay more attention to Jesus and His instructions to us. We also need to pay less attention to whether others are listening to Him and obeying Him.
We have all been given a specific calling, assignment, and task in God's purpose and plan. We are all accountable to Him and only Him. Therefore, we need to do our own part and not concern ourselves with everyone else. We need to be about our Father's business. Allow God to take care of all the other disciples of Jesus Christ. He is very capable.
When we stand before God on judgment day, He will not ask us what others did for Him. He will only ask us about our part. He will only ask us whether we were obedient and faithful to what He had called us and equipped us to do for Him. Let's decide today to only be about our Father's business, and let Him take care of everyone else's business.
Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.
