The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 21:20-23,
"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?' 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 last exchange between Jesus and his disciples recorded in John's gospel. Following Peter's earlier denial of Jesus three times after his arrest, we read of Peter's threefold reinstate in this chapter. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him and three times he told Peter to pursue the ministry he intended for him: "Feed my lambs", "Take care of my sheep" and "Feed my sheep."
Following this exchange on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus told Peter to follow him. As they went, Peter turned and saw John (our gospel writer) following them. Seeing him, Peter asked Jesus, "What about him?" I find Jesus' response to be instructive for me today.
Jesus told Peter, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." Some sixty years after this event, the gospel writer had to clarify to his readers (which eventually includes us!), "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?'"
A part of Jesus' response to Peter has to include the consideration for us all to follow the Lord: "You must follow me." And, that obedience is to surpass any concern we may have about what the future holds. The Son of God has his agenda, and whatever that agenda may be, we need to follow the Lord. This is first and foremost.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"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?' 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 last exchange between Jesus and his disciples recorded in John's gospel. Following Peter's earlier denial of Jesus three times after his arrest, we read of Peter's threefold reinstate in this chapter. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him and three times he told Peter to pursue the ministry he intended for him: "Feed my lambs", "Take care of my sheep" and "Feed my sheep."
Following this exchange on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus told Peter to follow him. As they went, Peter turned and saw John (our gospel writer) following them. Seeing him, Peter asked Jesus, "What about him?" I find Jesus' response to be instructive for me today.
Jesus told Peter, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." Some sixty years after this event, the gospel writer had to clarify to his readers (which eventually includes us!), "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?'"
A part of Jesus' response to Peter has to include the consideration for us all to follow the Lord: "You must follow me." And, that obedience is to surpass any concern we may have about what the future holds. The Son of God has his agenda, and whatever that agenda may be, we need to follow the Lord. This is first and foremost.
While I hold an interest, as many do, about the calendar of future events we attempt to decipher in the Scriptures, that must be subordinated to my focus on following the Lord. Gerald L. Borchert, in volume 25b of "The New American Commentary" makes an interesting comment about this: "The end of this Epilogue is therefore an implicit warning against chronologizing the eschaton [the calendar of future events], Just as the risen Jesus did not promise the beloved disciple control of the calendar of his lifespan, neither does he offer readers such insight. That knowledge belongs only to God."
All things have their importance. Refining the precision we may have on our understanding of the future events we read of in the Scriptures (and, maybe what we don't read in the Scriptures) falls well below the imperative we have to follow the Lord, "You must follow me."
A heated exchange (argument, dispute) between believers over, say, the timing of the Rapture, makes the point here. Are we following the Lord when we get angry at a brother for such a thing?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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