DATE: August 19, 2020
BY: Pastor Bob Miller
CHAPTER READ: John 21
SCRIPTURE SELECTED: John 20:21-23
22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
OBSERVATION: The resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples as they were fishing and then He took a walk with Peter and John was tagging along. In His conversation with Peter, Jesus indicates what kind of death Peter would face. Peter turns to John and asks Jesus about him. Jesus’ answer was: ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, it’s not your concern! You must follow me!” John who is writing this, shares how a rumor had spread that he would not die. He affirms that, is not what Jesus said!
APPLICATION: We sometimes can twist the words of Jesus to make them mean what we want, but that isn’t what Jesus said! We sometimes can hear what Jesus said to us, and then worry about what He has to say to others. I need first and foremost to pay attention to what He is saying to “ME” and then not twist His words to make them mean what I want, but rather what He wants!
PRAYER: Lord, give me a heart like John who just wanted to be close to you and who listened intently to the Word you spoke. He “tagged along” just in case he might hear you speak. He did not let your word grow dim. He remained faithful to what You said. Help me to do the same! Amen