WHEN PETER IS TOLD TO MIND HIS OWN BUSINESS

John 21:22

Morning Meditation 3/3/16

This text says: “Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.”

I don’t think anyone could have gotten away with saying this to Peter but Jesus. Peter did not have all the rough edges filed off his temper at this point. But this rough outspoken man who had a deep love for Jesus, and had just stated it, was willing to submit to him as he pressed him into shape as the potter does to the clay.

Jesus had told Peter that he would deny him when the test really came. Peter had argued with Jesus about this. Peter said in substance, “Jesus you know almost everything. I have really never found you wrong about anything. But this is one placed when you have missed it. Now, Jesus don’t misunderstand me. I really believe that what you are saying about these others is right. They will probably run when the time comes. But me?! Not me Lord. I have been with you from the shore of Galilee. And you still have not learned the quality and depth of my commitment. These may deny you Lord, but not me.”

Peter had learned that Jesus knew more about him than he knew about himself. He had denied the Lord just like he said. Now after the resurrection Jesus had specifically called for Peter. Jesus also knew the depths of Peter’s self disappointment. He knew how badly Peter hated to be wrong. Especially when he had made himself clear publicly about his willingness to die rather than deny him. Jesus has just finished asking Peter the question “Do you love me” three times. One for each denial! And I believe that Jesus has just brought Peter back to where he realizes that he has been forgiven. There must have been great relief. But on the way back Peter had to learn that Jesus knew more about him than he knew about himself.

Not only did Jesus deal with Peter about his denial indirectly, he dealt with him about his claim that he would die before he would deny him. Jesus told Peter (vs 18), “I also know how and when you are going to die. Peter, you won’t choose to die for me. I have already made that choice. It is determined. And if you really love me, you will trust me and rest in my choice for you life. Your job is not making a determination about death. It is feeding my sheep. That is your concern.” Peter does not answer negatively. He just keeps his mouth shut. Now Peter is definitely making progress at this point. I believe he groaned inside to keep from saying something. Peter liked to talk. He was very opinionated and he had to be sick in bed with a high fever and probably a little delirious to keep his mouth shut when it came to something like this. Jesus told Peter how he was going to die. Peter accepts this and surrenders to the truth of it. He says in 2 Pet. 1:14 “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”

One of the greatest accomplishments Jesus makes in our lives is when he puts such love in our hearts for himself that he is able to cut across our highly opinionated mind set and mold us into the vessel he can use. One of the hardest things we do is to trust what he says and to put our differing opinions in the trash. This didn’t happen overnight in Peter’s life. But it did happen.

Now Jesus says something to Peter that he has heard before. Jesus said to him “Follow me.” Jesus said this to Peter the first time in Matthew 4:19: “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus says, “Peter, lets go back to the basics. Let’s take up the purpose for which you were originally called.” I have had to do that many times in my ministry. Satan has used other interests to try to redirect my path. A servant of the Lord will have to go back to that original call and correct a misstep in the present by getting a new look at God’s original purpose.

Jesus said to Peter “Follow me” (akoloutheo) which means “to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him.” It is a present active imperative verb. It means to do this continually in the present tense of your life. It is an imperative mood which means it is a command. Peter is finally ready for the command. It is also urgent. Peter’s willingness to follow Jesus wherever that path leads is going to mean much to the future of his work on earth. All we have to do is read the book of Acts to see that Peter took the Lord’s command seriously. This also means that Jesus will ask Peter to go no where that he (Jesus) is not in front preceding him. Jesus preceded Jim Elliot to the sandbar on which he died by the arrows of the Auca Indians. Jim Elliot wrote in his diary: “God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life, that I may burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus.” -Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations by Paul Lee Tan’ page 271. Jesus said, “Peter, follow me. Don’t worry about anything in your future that confronts you. I am telling you that you are going to die a martyr’s death. Each time your life is threatened you are not going to know if this is going to be it. But what you do need to know is that I will precede you. You will be following me.” Peter followed Jesus to prison, in suffering, writing Epistles, feeding God’s sheep and finally in martyrdom (but never to Rome!). After this Peter always knew Jesus was just a step in front of him. (Excuse me while I have a camp meeting spell)

Jesus said, “Follow me” and the next verses say: Verses 20-22 “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” Jesus said “If I will” and means “to resolve, to determine, to purpose.” This has to do with Jesus’ sovereignty. “What does my sovereign choice concerning John have to do with you, Peter? If I were to choose to leave him on earth until I return. What does that have to do with our relationship?” Jesus said, “What I do with and allow in the life of John has nothing to do with what I am saying to you.” Peter had to learn another lesson. Jesus let him know that it was not his business what he was doing in another’s life. I believe Jesus is saying “That is a distraction that will be a hindrance. Peter, I want to use you. But remember Peter, you are not the only one I am using. I will use others and that is not your concern.”

Have you ever been turned aside by an unscriptural concern over what God is doing in the lives of others? I know men who are not in the ministry today and are sitting on the sidelines because they did not concentrate on the ministry to which God had called them. They became confused and bitter over what others were doing wrong. We need to mind our own business, if our business is to love and serve him. This is not to criticize a ministry that is like a watchman on the wall. There are ministries that expose error. We need to learn from them. But we do not need to be distracted by them from following Jesus in the path where he is leading us.

God moved on my heart to deal with this passage this morning. I hope it helps. It helped me to write it to remind me again that Jesus has said to me, “Follow me.” God bless you.

In Christ

Earl White