What Is That To You?

“When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"—John 21:21-22

It was Jesus’ third time appearing to the disciples after His resurrection.  He appeared on the shoreline after Peter and the other disciples had spent the night fishing, catching nothing.  Just as the sun shone above the horizon, Jesus stood on the shore, although the disciples didn’t recognize Him.  Jesus called out and said, “Children, do you have any fish?” They replied in the negative.  Jesus called out again, telling them to cast their nets out and they would find some fish.  They did and hauled in 153 of them.

It was not difficult for the disciples to discern that it was Jesus on shore, and they quickly made their way to Him, hauling their fish in tow.  Once on the shore, Jesus cooked them breakfast.  After eating their fill, Jesus engages Peter in a conversation whereby Peter is restored to a right relationship with Him.  Peter had denied Jesus three times on the night of His crucifixion, and now Jesus asks Peter three questions to prove Peter’s love for Him.  Jesus then tells Peter how he would glorify Him by his future death—a very sobering yet enlightening truth meant for Peter’s encouragement.

It was at just that moment that Peter turned and saw John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, following them.  It is unclear why Peter asks Jesus about John, but he nevertheless does, saying, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus responds, “If it is My will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me!" Jesus may have wanted to correct any notion that Peter had in his mind regarding John’s future ministry—for it was none of Peter’s concern.  Jesus didn’t want Peter to have any jealousy or pride creep up.  Instead, Jesus wanted Peter’s concern to be for what Jesus had for him.  Peter was not John’s master, Jesus was, and it was to Him that John would have to give an account and receive direction for his life and ministry.

We can all too quickly get caught up in what others are doing for the kingdom of God, and the moment we do, we may become prideful, with evil in our hearts, entertaining such ideas as measuring who is greater in God’s kingdom (cf. Luke 9:46-48).  Such thoughts are despicable and completely antithetical to the kingdom of God.  We cannot entertain such thoughts, brothers and sisters!  James tells us that we are to “show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1).  We are to make ourselves as little children (Matthew 18:3-4), taking the lowest seats of honor when we are with others (Luke 14:10), seeking to be the servants of all those with whom we work (Mark 9:35).  While making every effort to outdo ourselves in showing honor (Romans 12:10), we are to count others more significant than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).  We become as drink offerings, ready to be poured out in service to others (Philippians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:6).

Let’s put to death any notion of selfish desires in our pursuit of Christ.  May we nail them to the cross!  And may Jesus’ life be continually manifested in us!  Let Jesus’ words to Peter find good soil in which to take root in our spiritual lives—“What is that to you?” And may we follow Jesus’ words wholeheartedly—“Follow Me!” —because it is through following Him that we gain the true understanding of who God is, who we are, and who He has purposed us to be!  Amen.