Saturday April 26, 2003

~ What’s it to you? ~

   Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who has 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 brothers 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.

— John 21:20-25 (NIV) —

When things aren’t going our way… and God seems to be giving us a really hard life to live. (Jesus had just told Peter how he was going to die.) We tend to look to those around us and compare. Thinking about someway around… some technicality that will give us reason or excuse to disobey… why else would we look to something other than Christ?

Peter asked, “What about him?” You can almost imagine Peter pointing at the other disciple… asking Jesus what is going to happen to the other disciple… so Peter could argue… could have a point to argue with Jesus about. Instead Jesus says, “what is that to you? You must follow me.” Jesus pretty much rebukes Peter. Something like “None of your business… You’ve got your own things to take care of….”

People, of course, misunderstood and thought that this disciple wouldn’t die. How typical. Jesus was telling Peter to keep an eye upon his own life… look to your self before you turn a critical eye elsewhere (Plank in your own eye… – Matthew 7:3-5) Peter needed to take care to live his life in Jesus’ footsteps, after Peter had done so, then Peter could begin to look to others.

When you are trying to follow someone, in real life, regardless of whether you are walking, biking, driving, jogging, running, … etc. You need to focus on who you are following. You memorize something specific so that if you run into a crowd, you can still find the person you are following. (Knowing his voice… John 10:4) If you get distracted by something else, a pretty girl, an accident by the side of the road, … It is easy to forget about who you are following and when you look around, you will be disoriented while you try to find the person you were following again.

What’s the point?
Hmm… This verse is telling me to stop comparing myself with others in my spiritual walk with God. Keep my focus upon Jesus and don’t focus too much on what God is going to do in someone else’s life. I think if my spiritual walk was strong, loving concern for others will come naturally.

Father, thank you for this wonderful spiritual food. It is better to have a taste of spiritual food than to stuff your face with physical food and just get hungry later… Keep me in your ways, Lord. Let me run this race and keep my eyes upon You and what You have told me. Forgive me for all those times I have sinned against you and help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. Let Your light shine forth. Give me today my daily bread both spiritual as well as physical. I pray all this in the one name where there is HOPE, in Jesus name, Amen.