"Lord, What About This Man?"

     After Jesus restored Peter to service in a very touching scene, John concludes his gospel with an interesting exchange. “Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:20-22).

     Peter is often viewed in a negative light in this place and it is often assumed that his motive in asking about John was purely selfish. That could be true. However, it could also be that Peter was concerned and curious about a dear friend. After all, Peter had just been told that he would be martyred (John 21:18-19). I suppose it would be odd for Peter not to be concerned about the manner of his friend John’s death upon learning the manner of his own. While we do not know Peter’s motivation for certain, it is perhaps not entirely necessary to cast him in a negative light in this place. These could have been the words of a concerned friend.

     However, whether Peter’s motives were pure or not, Jesus used Peter’s words to remind him of something very important: Peter needed to follow Christ regardless of what anyone else was doing. Peter had to look back, taking his eyes off the Master, to see John following. Jesus told him to keep his eyes trained on Him. What a lesson for you and I today!

     Often when Alexander or Jacob does something wrong they immediately point at one another and say something like, “He was doing it, too. He shouldn’t get any cookies or snacks for the rest of the day!” Such behavior is understandable, even a bit humorous, from a 6 and 4 year old. Unfortunately, we Christians act like children from time to time, don’t we? I have heard Christians rightly rebuked respond with something like, “If you’re going to rebuke me, you’d better not forget about brother Smith!” or “Well, surely you don’t think I’m the only one! What about sister Martin?” All sin needs to be corrected, yet surely our Lord’s, “You follow me!” is appropriate in such cases.

     Other times Christians focus almost all their attention upon everything happening around them. They are focused upon the abilities, accomplishments, commendations, career opportunities, financial successes, and blessings of their brethren. Some brethren have even questioned why a brother or sister should be allowed to profit so extraordinarily. Jesus says, “If it is my will…what is that to you? You follow me!”

     None of this is to say that saints ought not to be concerned with their brethren. It is to say that at the end of the day Adam is responsible for Adam and Adam needs to be taking care of Adam’s business, not everyone else’s. The next time we find ourselves asking Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” let us make certain the man (or woman) under consideration is the one looking right back at us from the mirror. That man (or woman) follows Christ and must never forget it.