John 21

Follow Me!

John 21:22 “Jesus said to him, “what is that to you? You follow me!”

Have you ever felt bummed out because you look at the lives of your friends and others around and then compare it to your life and it doesn’t quite add up? Your friends have more stuff and a bigger house,  your brother and sister are allowed to do things that your parents never would have let you do at their age, or you are going through a tough time in life and it seems like everyone else has it easy. You are sitting there asking “Why me?”

This is where Peter finds himself after Jesus informs Peter that he is going to die for the glory of God.(vs. 18-19). I’m sure this was not easy news at first. Imagine if someone told you that you were going to die and that it was going to be extremely painful. Not fun news. So Peters response was “well what about John?” He was basically wanting to know if John was going to suffer like he was going to suffer. Peter was comparing his situation to John’s.

Jesus’ response to Peter is something that we all need to hear. “What is that to you? You follow me!” Jesus redirects Peter’s attention to what really matters. Jesus is saying to Peter “it does not matter what I have others do. That is none of your concern. Your job is to follow Me and do what I tell you to do!”  The same applies to us. If we focus on the blessings of others or that others don’t have it as hard as we do, we lose focus of Jesus.

What are you focused on today? Do you think a lot about how much harder your life is than everyone else’s? Jesus says, “what does that matter? You follow Me.” Are you bummed because the people around you are being blessed and you feel like you are not? Jesus says, “what does that matter? You follow Me!”  Focus on Jesus and what He has called you to do. Don’t worry about others, follow Jesus!