Day 225: John 21:15–23

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord—what about him?” “If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you?” (vv. 21–22).

Ambition could not supply the motivation to follow Jesus where Peter would have to go. In John 21, Jesus repeated the one motivation that would suffice. Jesus said to him three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” (John 21:17).

Oh, beloved, can you see the significance? No other motivation will last! We might feed the sheep or serve the flock based on other motivations for a while, but only one thing will compel us to follow the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully to the death: love!

You see, our callings may differ, but if we’re going to follow Jesus Christ in the power of the crucified life, our compellings will be the same. Only love compels to the death. Circumstances will inevitably happen in all our lives that will defy all discipline, determination, and conviction. Opposition will happen. Life will get hard. Only love will keep burning when everything else disintegrates into an ashen heap. Pray for this one thing more than you pray for your next breath. I am convinced love is everything.

But I wasn’t the first one convinced. I simply follow in a long line of believers who failed their way into the discovery that love is the highest priority and motivating force in the entire life of faith. Generations before any of us wised up, a young disciple named John was so drawn to Christ’s discourse on love that he couldn’t help but listen as Jesus and Peter walked away from the others to talk.

I am convinced the conversation recorded in John 21:15–23 began in the group of eight. Perhaps in the course of the question and answer, however, Jesus quite naturally stood up, brushed Himself off, and took a few steps away from the small circle of men. Peter, unnerved by his own interpretation of the repetitive question, probably jumped to his feet and followed.

Verse 17 tells us that Peter was “grieved” because Jesus questioned his love a third time: “Lord, you know everything! You know that I love you” (hcsb). Mind you, he was still drenched to the bone from his zeal. Jesus then prophesied the reason why Peter’s love for Him would be so critical. Peter would be asked to glorify God by giving his own life. Only love would make him willing. Then, as if to say, “Knowing all this and with your eyes wide open,” Christ reissued the call, “Follow me!” Don’t downplay it for an instant. The cost of the call was huge.

We don’t know what caused Peter to suddenly look behind him and see John following them. Perhaps John stepped on a branch that had fallen to the ground. Perhaps he groaned audibly when he heard Christ foretell his closest friend’s future. But I don’t believe John trailed them out of selfish curiosity. I think he sensed the enormity of the concept the risen Teacher was teaching through this emotional interchange.

This was no tiptoed eavesdropping. I think he was drawn to the conversation like a magnet. I believe Scripture will prove that John, perhaps like no other disciple in that circle, assimilated the profound implications of what his beloved Savior was saying. “You are My called ones. You have tough futures ahead of you, but the glory God will gain will be immeasurable. Love is the only motivation that can afford this kind of cost.”

When Peter saw John, he asked, “‘Lord—what about him?’” Oh, at times like these, how I wish we had the Bible in its completely inspired and original form on videotape! We would be far better equipped to interpret a scene accurately if we could see the expressions on the face of the speaker and hear his tone of voice. Since we have no such help, words like Peter’s may have as many different interpretations as I have commentaries. I’m looking at two different commentaries right this moment, and each says something different about Peter’s motivation for asking this question.

No matter what your interpretation may be, I think we all can admit that the question plagues each of us at times, whatever our reason for asking. Perhaps God has called you to suffer some pretty difficult circumstances while another seems to flourish in relative ease. Or perhaps your heart has broken for someone who works so hard and serves so diligently, but difficulty is her constant companion. Maybe one of your children has seemed so blessed and gifted by God and you keep looking at the other and asking, “Lord, what about him?”

Beloved, over and over Jesus tells us, “You can trust Me!” In this scene He is saying to His present-day disciples, “You can trust Me with you, and you can trust Me with them. I am the same God to all of you, but I have a different plan for each of you. You won’t miss it if you keep following. Remember, I’ve been a carpenter by trade. Custom blueprints are My specialty. God’s glory is My goal. Now fill your canteen to the brim with love and follow Me.”