John 21:20-23 - Homiletics

The mystery of John's future.

The Apostle Peter began to follow Jesus as he went forth, and, turning round, saw John following. He is anxious to know the future destiny of his fellow-disciple.

I. PETER 'S QUESTION CONCERNING JOHN . "Lord, and what shall this man do?" or, literally, "Lord, and this man! what?"

1. Consider the motive of this question.

(a) They were two apostles most intimately linked together in the associations of our Lord's ministry. They were two of the three honored with the more intimate confidence of our Lord—apart with him

( α ) in the house of Jairus;

( β ) in the Mount of Transfiguration;

( γ ) in the garden of Gethsemane.

(b) Their very variety of gifts and temperament tended to cement the relationship more closely together. The one was the man of reflection; the other, of action.

2. Consider the meaning of this question . "Lord, and what shall this man do?" Is he destined to suffer and die like me? Or is he destined to a still longer life and a more peaceful and natural death?

II. OUR LORD 'S ANSWER TO THE QUESTION . "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?"

1. The answer assumes a certain tone of rebuke, as if Peter's question lay somewhat outside the sphere of his own direct concernment and duty.

2. It implies that the Lord exercises a Divine sovereignty over the lives and over the deaths of his servants. The Lord can make his servants "tarry" in the world as long as it pleases him.

3. It implies that his servants ought to tarry till the Lord comes. The words, therefore; rebuke

4. The answer of our Lord implies that each disciple has a distinct position in the world. "What is that to thee? follow thou me."

(a) his more separate sphere of responsibility;

(b) his separate cares;

(c) his separate destiny.

(a) Our Lord does not censure the regard of social relations;

(b) but the neglect of individual concern, the disposition to interest one's self unduly in other people's concerns.

5. The answer of our Lord implies that we are bound to follow him through all the mystery that surrounds our path. "Follow thou me." Peter is to follow Christ whether he knows or not the future destiny of his beloved fellow-disciple.

(a) that he will solve our difficulties,

(b) or that he will give us peace in presence of difficulties, in the hope of their future solution. Let us deal with the duty of the hour, and leave the future to God.

6. The answer of our Lord implies that John would tarry till his coming. "If I will that he tarry till I come." The words are dark enough in their meaning, yet history seems to interpret them.

(a) Scripture speaks of the Lord's coming in connection with that event, which, by sweeping away the Jewish commonwealth, would leave the ground clear for the establishment of the kingdom of God.

(b) John did, as a matter of fact, long survive this event.