John the apostle wrote how Jesus told Peter, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, When you were young, you girded yourself, and walked wherever you would: but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands, and another shall gird you, and carry you where you would not. This spoke he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you? Peter seeing him said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-two of his book John shared how Jesus asked Peter, “if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you?” where we read:
Jesus said unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? You follow me.
The verse begins, “Jesus said unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you?” John began with the words, “Jesus said unto him” which means “Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked him, Peter”, “If I will that he tarry till I come” or “whether and in case I, Jesus, desire and want that he, John, remain, not depart and continue until the time when I, Jesus, arise and appear”, “what is that to you” which means “what does the fact that John continues until Jesus returns have to do with you, Peter”? John shared how Jesus questioned what business it was of “Peter” if “John” continued and remained until the time He returned.
The verse goes on to say, “You follow me.” John continued with the word, “you” or “you, Peter” “follow me” which means “accompany, join with and side with me, Jesus”. John shared how Jesus repeated His previous words to “Peter” to “accompany and side with” Him.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus basically told “Peter” to “mind his own business”, and whether John lived until the time Jesus returned, it was not to be any of his concern. Jesus wants people to “follow” Him, and rather than worrying about what is going to happen to anyone else, they should keep their eyes upon Him. God desires an individual and personal relationship with every person, and He has a plan and purpose for each person's life. Those who yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and given the opportunity to “follow” Him wherever He leads.
Next time John shares, “then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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