WHAT ABOUT THIS MAN? Jesus said, if I want him to remain until I come, WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? You follow Me. (John 21:22) This interchange between Jesus and Peter is found in the last chapter of The Gospel of John and is found in John 21:18-22. Jesus is talking specifically to Peter as He is restoring Peter and identifying Peters means of death and told Peter the words he had heard in the beginning on the shores of Galilee as a simple fisherman, Follow Me. Peter, being Peter, tried to drag someone else into the conversation (most likely John) by saying, Lord, what about this man? Jesus bring it back to Peter and states, ...if I want him (John) to remain until I come, WHAT IS THAT TO YOU? You (Peter) follow Me. How often I have tried to divert attention away from myself by point out someone else. I try to point out their sins to divert the eyes off of my sin. Or I try to elevate the way that I minister to others as the BEST METHOD by putting down and criticizing other methods as INFERIOR METHODS. I try to categorize other peoples ministry, methods, music, by levels of anointing. I try to exhibit a side by side comparison of results thinking that numbers or magnitude of miracles is the measuring stick for pleasing the Lord. I rationalize my sins against someones sins as one being forgiven and the other not forgiven or one being acceptable sin verses their hell bound sins. When the focus becomes US versus THEM we lose the power and effectiveness of our own ministry/purpose that the Lord has for us. There is nothing new under the sun, especially followers of Jesus. John (not Peter this time) said to Him (Jesus), Teacher, we saw SOMEONE (other than us) casting out demons IN YOUR NAME, and we TRIED TO HINDER him (the other than us people) BECAUSE he was NOT FOLLOWING US. (Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49) I can only imagine that John wanted Jesus to give the order to bring down the fire, but He did not. Instead He told them to do the opposite. But Jesus said, Do not hinder him, for there is no one who shall perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For he who is not against us is for us. (Mark 9:39-40) The Luke passage reads this way. But Jesus said to him, Do not hinder him, for he wh is not against you is for you. (Luke 9:50) I find it interesting the heart/attitude of the disciples who just a few verses later, when The Samaritans did not receive Jesus because He was journeying with His face toward Jerusalem, asked the Lord, Lord, do You want us to COMMAND FIRE TO COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUME THEM? Jesus response was... But He turned and rebuked them and said, You do not know what kind of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy mens lives, but to save them. (Luke 9:55-56) If you and I are arrogant enough to think your method, message or ministry is superior or the right way o another brother or sisters method, message, or ministry we may need to have an attitudinal adjustment to line up with Jesuss attitude (Philippians 2:3-8) You can be arrogant and proud of what you have done here on earth for the Lord...and get your reward now or you can humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and pray for others and get a boatload of crowns that you can set before the Father. https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTmYYTKDvklJHyBvrb8Zk4KpQz2zXSuRhD9CIuuO7SlY1uFGCRW0Q .
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 14:03:12 +0000
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