"Follow Me"

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

FOLLOW ME

John 21:20-25

20 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?") 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" 22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."  23 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?"  24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 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.

NIV

Jesus had told Peter that he must follow him. It certainly appears Peter had no intention not to follow Jesus, but he did wonder why Jesus made such a big deal about asking him if he loved him and about feeding His sheep and did not say anything about John, the author of this gospel. Of course, John had not authored this gospel yet, but Jesus had already transferred the care of his mother to John at the cross. So Peter wants to know about John. He asked Jesus what about him. As John makes it clear, Jesus never said that John would never die, but only that Peter needs to be concerned about the calling Jesus has on his life and not be concerned about the calling Jesus has on John’s life. This has a direct bearing on our lives. We each have an individual calling upon our lives. Although we all have the calling to follow Jesus, he has individual tasks or places within his body that he needs us to function. Some believers have the most incredible gift with their voice and music. It is clear Jesus has called them to lead people in worship through music. We were not called into that area. What is interesting is that we took up the interest in visual communication, but Jesus called us to verbal communication, an area we had no training or talent in whatsoever. From our perspective, we can only say that the visual was our desire, the verbal was His. So then, any means in which words are used and if they are in any way effective in communicating the truth of His words, Jesus gets all the glory, for it is Him and not us. Others have been called to other skillsets for his glory. Peter was to do what Jesus wanted Peter to do and John was to do what Jesus wanted him to do. That is our story as well. If we could just get that, it would eliminate any jealousy or envy as well as any pride. We would all know that we are all doing and being exactly what Jesus has called and gifted us to be and do. We think where it might get a little messed up at times, is when we want to be and do what we want instead of what Jesus desires. When Paul wrote those words about being content in whatsoever situation he finds himself in, whether he has everything or he is in want or need, rich or poor, well feed or hungry, free or in prison, none of that matters because he is in Christ and Christ is in him. Paul’s concern was to run the race, to make it to the finish line. Of course, his calling was to bring the truth to the Gentiles, to preach, to teach, to travel to the world telling the story of Jesus. He did it and he did it with gusto. That should also give us a clue as to how we should follow Jesus, with gusto, with all our being, doing that which he has called us to do, whatsoever that may be. Our calling is to follow Jesus. Jesus calls out to us, “Follow me”.