Reading the Word

John 21:20–23 (ESV)

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

Understanding and Applying the Word

After Jesus had given instruction to Peter about what he was to do, Peter asked Jesus about what the future held for John. Jesus’ response can be summarized as “Don’t worry about what I have planned for others. Just make sure you are following me.”

In this short passage we are reminded that the Lord has unique plans for his people. We should not look to compare ourselves to others for our sense of worth or success. Our primary concern is not to outdo one another, but to focus on following Christ wherever he may lead us. Our faithfulness to him is what we are called to. The Lord may ask some of us to go to far away lands as missionaries. Others he may call to preach to megachurches of thousands. Still others he may lead to tiny country churches that only a handful of people attend. And he may call us to be stay-at-home moms, factory workers, farmers, or a host of other things. Whatever he has called us to, our main priority is to be faithful and do it for his glory.

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