John 21:18-23
Lord, What About Him?
Riding the Inner City buses is an educational experience. One thing you learn early on is this: What you do for one you have to do for all. (That is, if you want any peace). There’s a standard of fairness and interconnectedness that is embedded in the hearts and minds of those kids that makes them like this.
It should come as no surprise. Our Declaration of Independence states the same thing when it says that all of us have been created equal. The truth is that some are created more equal than others. Did you know that you can take equality so far that we have some serious problems, such as understanding the difference between boys and girls that we see put into law regarding marriage today. In actuality, everyone is created different! There’s not another person like you in the universe. The equality principle is not the only principle at work in the true and real world. It needs balance and modification in light of the over all story of life.
The Bible states clearly that God is no respecter of persons, but the context of that is regarding who can be saved. In other places God clearly demonstrates that he chose Israel over all the other nations to be His people, not because they were bigger or better than other nations, but because God’s sovereign authority. He made a covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel inherited God’s promise.
When God organizes the local congregation of His church there are various spiritual gifts and various positions of ministry that God puts in place according to His own wisdom and through His Spirit. Some receive greater responsibility and authority than others. Is this showing favoritism? No! It is a demonstration of God’s wisdom and will. We are not the same but we share one Lord, one faith, one baptism. We are not all alike, but we bring our different gifts and talents together into one body and one family. The variety is as important as the equality and God’s election as sure as our responsibility.
When Jesus walked among us on this earth, he chose 12 men to become Apostles and of the 12 Jesus poured more time and energy into three: Peter, James and John. The gospels tell us that from time to time there was arguing among these men about which was the greatest. James and John’s mother had tried to procure special seating for her sons in the Kingdom of heaven, one on one side and the other on the other side of Jesus in his reign. As late as the final Passover meal with Jesus, these disciples were wrangling with one another over the same issue. You would think that if you walked and talked with Jesus for three years, you’d get the lesson of humility. But somehow these men needed regular reminders.
Now, as we come to the close of John’s gospel, as we talked about it this morning, we have Peter’s reinstatement and affirmation of his leadership and eventual sacrificial death to the glory of God. But what happens next is almost too life like. Peter is obviously still Peter. Let’s read the chapter one more time, and as we do, pay attention to Jesus and Peter’s relationship, and the dynamics of their conversation.
John 21:1-23
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[a] It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.
6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
20Peter 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?") 21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23Because 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?"
Now the part I want to focus on for our lesson is verses 21-22.
21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" 22Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
Jesus has just told Peter how he would die to glorify God and then he said, “Follow me.”
Peter looks back to see John coming along behind them and what is Peter thinking about? “Lord, what about him?” Wrong question!
Jesus wants us to pay attention to where we are going and not be distracted by comparisons with others around us.
Imagine as you follow Jesus, the path leads to difficulty or sickness while others who follow Jesus seem to have ease and good health. What does this produce in your heart? What does the Lord want you to do with this?
Remember Jesus himself as he lived and served and taught among us. Where did the will of God lead him? What was Jesus’ reaction when he faced the cross? He didn’t want to go there. He even prayed that if possible this cup might pass. But Jesus followed the will of his Father and gave up his own will. This is our example. It is not about equality. It is about obedience to the will of God for his glory.
You may have a calling that leads you in places you do not want to go. But the Lord will strengthen and work through you to his glory and your good if you keep walking in the path he calls you to.
Don’t let Satan whisper blame or pity into your heart. Don’t let the condition of others around you draw your attention away from following Jesus. Don’t ask, “Lord, what about him?” Bad question. Instead, ask, “Lord, will you give me grace and strengthen my faith?”
I love the song that says:
My God, my Father, tho I stray far from my home, on life’s rough way, O teach me from my heart to say: Thy will be done.
Tho dark my path and sad my lot, let me be still and murmur not, but breath the prayer divinely taught: Thy will be done.
Renew my will from day to day; Blend it with thine and take away all that now makes it hard to say: Thy will be done.
Then, when on earth I breathe no more the prayer oft mixed with tears before, I’ll sing upon a happier shore: Thy will be done!
