John, If I Want Him to Remain

Jesus asked Peter “Lovest thou me?” and tells him how he will die. {John 21:12-19}

So, Peter is like so many of us. He wants to know about his friend. He looks over at John and asked “what about him?”

How did Jesus answer?

“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”  {John 21:22}

Jesus doesn’t say John will tarry until his return, but “if I will it, what is it to you.”  He is putting Peter in his place and telling him to mind his own business.

Ouch. How many times do we look at our friends and go what about them?  What will happen to them?  Why can’t I have what they have?  We don’t want to be singled out.

But, Jesus tells Peter it’s none of his business.  All Peter needs to do is to remain.

These men were no different from people today.  The gossip spread throughout them quickly.

“Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”   {John 21:23}

Word quickly spread that John would not die among those present, but that was not what Jesus said. He was said, “if I will it so be it. What business is it to you?”

How many times does the Lord say this to us, when we covet what someone else has? 

How is Jesus asking you to follow him?

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