Being the Church #28

After Jesus' resurrection and before His ascension, He took Peter aside for a conversation.  This is of particular interest to us in our series of studies because Peter was the one to whom Jesus had given pointed words about "The Church," and it was Peter who would step up and be the spokesman when The Church began a short time later. 

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
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!”

If you noticed above, both paragraphs end with Jesus' call to Peter: "You Follow Me." No matter what others do - no matter what happens to you or them, you follow me.  From the get-go, Jesus wants it to be very clear that there is no room in His Church for "the comparison game." Both men would faithfully serve Him to the end and to their end. Both would receive His "Well done, my good and faithful servant." But each of us have our own calling, our own course to run, though we run it together.  We are in this thing called "The Church" together, to support and encourage one another, but the details of each of our journeys are as different as our fingerprints. Let's keep our eyes on and follow Christ, not one another.