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? Jesus said unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you? You follow me”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-three of his book John shared, “then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die” where we read:
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you?
The verse begins, “Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die:” John began with the words, “then went this saying abroad” which means “at this time spread the following utterance, declaration and proclamation” “among the brethren” or “towards and to the fellow believers and brothers in Christ”, “that that disciple should not die” which means “that this student, pupil and attendant of Jesus was not going to experience the separation of his soul from his body, perish or be slain”. John shared how there began to be an “utterance” among the fellow believers in Jesus that John was never to perish.
The verse continues, “yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to you?” John added the words, “yet Jesus said not unto him” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate did not utter, declare or proclaim to him, Peter”, “He shall not die” which means “He, John, will not experience the separation of his soul from his body, perish or be slain”; “but, if I will that he tarry” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover whether and in case I, Jesus, desire and want he, John to remain, not depart and continue” “till I come” which means “until the time when I, Jesus, arise and appear”, “what is that to you” or “what does the fact that John continues until Jesus returns have to do with you, Peter”? John shared how “Jesus” did not say that “John” was never going to die, but “if” he continued to live, what business was that of Peter.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn not only how a rumor spread that John would never die, but also that this was not keeping with what Jesus actually said. Jesus was telling “Peter” to pay attention to His own business rather than John's, and because God desires to have a personal relationship with each person through His Son Jesus, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and provide a purpose and plan for everyone who submits to Him. Let all who read these words hear the words of Jesus, “follow Him” and keep their attention upon His purpose for them rather than someone else.
Next time John shares, “This is the disciple which testifies of these things, and wrote these things”, 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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