John 21:21-22
“Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.””
BEREAN.AI
Title: What Is That to You?
Scripture: John 21:21-22
Peter had just heard the hardest news of his life: he would die for Jesus. Then he saw John walking behind them and blurted out, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus answered, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” That stops every comparison dead in its tracks.
We all do what Peter did. We hear what God asks of us, and immediately we look around at someone else. We measure our calling against theirs, our suffering against theirs, our success against theirs. The flesh loves a scoreboard. Jesus refuses to give Peter any information about John’s future because that information would only feed Peter’s urge to compare.
Comparison is poison to discipleship. It makes us proud if we think we are ahead, bitter if we think we are behind, and distracted either way. Jesus cuts the root by telling Peter, and us, to keep our eyes on the only assignment we have been given: “You follow me.” The Greek is present tense, continuous action. Keep on following, today, tomorrow, the next day. That is the whole job description.
Notice Jesus does not say, “Try to match John,” or “Outdo John,” or “Make sure you get what John gets.” He says, “Trust my plan for John, and walk the path I have for you.” The moment we start policing God’s providence in another person’s life, we stop walking our own road. We trip over someone else’s feet instead of keeping step with Christ.
What does this look like on an ordinary day? When the neighbor gets promoted and you are still stuck in the same cubicle, you refuse envy and go back to your work as unto the Lord. When the single friend gets engaged and you are still alone, you bless them, close the laptop, and keep serving the people God has placed in front of you. When the church down the street grows faster than yours, you pray for them, preach the gospel in your pulpit, and visit the sick in your congregation. You follow Jesus where he has put you.
Jesus is not stingy; he is sovereign. He gives each disciple exactly what will glorify the Father and finish the good work he started. Our part is to trust his wisdom and stay in our lane. The question is never, “Why does he have more?” The question is, “Am I being faithful with what he has entrusted to me?” If the answer is yes, we can leave the rest with him.
Prayer: Lord, we confess the hours we have wasted counting other people’s blessings. Forgive our pride and our pouting. Teach us to keep our eyes on you today. Help us to hear your voice saying our name and to walk the next step of obedience. We trust your plan for us and for everyone else. In Jesus’ name, amen.
