What is that to thee?

John 21:21-22

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.

There is a lesson to be carefully and diligently learned from the words that Jesus spoke to the apostle Peter. Christ had risen again from the dead and met His disciples for the third time in person. This time they are fishing when He appears on the shore. He told them to cast the net on the right side of the ship, and they would find. The disciples then pulled in more fish than one could handle. The Lord Jesus makes fish and bread for them, and He tells them, “Come and dine.” What a pleasure it must have been to dine with our Lord. After dinner, Jesus asked Peter the all-important question of the ages. He wanted to know if Peter loved Him more than these. Than what? The fishes? The other disciples? Their occupation? It matters not. Christ is to be loved above all others! And if He is, we will, no doubt, feed His lambs and feed His sheep. Peter was commanded to take care of the flock of Christ which he did with great skill and aptitude.

Jesus also gives Peter an ominous prediction. One day, our Lord tells him, he will no longer gird himself and go where he pleases. Someone else would gird him and lead him where he would not want to go. He was speaking portentously of the death that Peter would die. He would stretch forth his hands to others, who would kill him and abuse him as they liked. He would mirror the sufferings of Christ in that way. And when Peter hears this prophecy, and when Christ says, “Follow me,” Peter begins to think of what others will be called upon by the Lord to do. He begins to compare mentally His own promised suffering with the suffering that other of the disciples may also endure. And he asks, speaking of John, “And what shall this man do?” He meant, “What will he be called upon to suffer?” “Is he required to love you more than and above all else?” “Is he held to the standard which you have just required of me?” “What must he do for you?” These are all questions we are prone to ask of others. What will they do for the Lord? Why are they not held accountable for all I seem to be held accountable for? Why is there a difference, a dissimilarity, an inequality, an imbalance? Why is so much expected of me? Well, the resounding answer to you today is the same that Christ answered Peter on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. What is that to thee? Follow thou me.

My brother or sister, we know that we are apt to this same comparison, this same measuring of ourselves with others. And this is displeasing to the Lord! They that measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves among themselves are not wise! No! What is that to thee? Worry not about it! Concern not over it! Only concern with following the Lord Jesus! That is all that will matter in the great day when you shall stand before Him. Be thankful, my friend, that He has laid upon you such accountability, such responsibility, such a calling. What others do is not your business, not your jurisdiction, and not your “line of things.” Follow the Lord! One day, all others will vanish, and you will stand alone. Do not ask what others shall do, or to what they will be called. What is that to thee! Only follow Him, and all shall be well. He shall use thee, as Peter, for His mighty power and glory!

“Father, thank you for this great lesson to which you have just now directed our hearts and minds. It has exposed and opened forth the secrets of our hearts. We know that we sometimes compare and measure ourselves against others. But no matter! That means nothing to me any more! It is of no value whatsoever! I care nothing! Help us, Lord, to only take care that we follow Thee. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”