20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” (John 21)
Jesus has just given Peter a glimpse into his future. His will be a life filled with purpose, along with the promise of martyrdom. He then turns and asks Jesus about John, the writer of this Gospel. Why? Why does he care or even compare? Actually, we are not told what was in Peter's heart. Humanly speaking, John was Peter's closest competition of "disciple of the year", but I really don't think it was jealousy, or morbid curiousity, or any impure motive. I think Peter finally was learning to love his brothers as Jesus had taught and shown. In the days ahead we will see how they work as a team. He really did care what happened to John. But why do we wonder what will happen to our fellow believers? Do we want them to "get theirs"? Are we comparing so we feel justified in our failures? Are we learning to really love and care for one another just like Christ does for us?
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