Equal Servants Of Christ
Or
Stay Clear Of Comparisons
Sunday Nov. 12, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“Then Peter turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, ‘Lord, who is the one who betrays You?’ Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, ‘But Lord, what about this man?’”
“Jesus said to him, ‘If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.’ Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, ‘If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?’”
“This is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.” John 21.20-24
Something To Consider:
Jesus not wanting to embarrass Peter in front of the other disciples, took him for a walk privately. There was some unfinished spiritual business Jesus wanted to put behind them. And the same is at times true in our own lives.
Jesus is not seeking every opportunity to divulge our faults and past failures for the entire world to see. But His eternal concern and best interest for each of us causes Him to want to face them and to deal with them and then move on.
I believe this to be true of Jesus by John’s insertion of the words, “Then Peter turned around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following.” Jesus could have brought it all out into the open sitting there by the campfire in front of the other disciples, but He did not. But at the end of their “Do you love Me discussion”, Peter just could not help but open another spiritual can of worms.
Why is it that we as human beings so often seek to misdirect the focus and attention of our faults by raising questions that point the finger of concern in someone else’s direction? I too am guilty as charged of this spiritual crime. How about you?
Jesus was dealing with Peter and not John. When Jesus is dealing with us, let us resist the evil temptation of misdirecting attention away from our personal iniquity, sin, and trespasses, by pointing to someone else. Let us be reminded that we are equal servants of Christ and therefore, we are to stay clear of comparisons and acts of misdirection.
Something Else To Consider:
Peter seeing John following, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” In the mind of Christ, Peter and John, as well as all the disciples, were equal servants of Christ. There was not one man more important or one person more significant than another.
In the early church Paul was hailed as the great evangelistic missionary apostle. Peter was known as the Christ-like shepherd of God’s people. John would come to be known as the old eyewitness for Jesus Christ whom Jesus loved. But they were all equally as important as any other faithful servant of the Lord, past, present, and future.
But, Peter’s question, “But Lord, what about this man?”, opened the door for Jesus to lightly rebuke Peter for his concern about the future of John, by saying to Peter and to anyone of the same mindset, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” Wow! Our concern should be that we follow Jesus as equal servants of Christ. Therefore, how are we doing?
Jesus, after predicting His death and resurrection in Mark chapter 8, instructed all who have ears to hear, by stating in verse 34; “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him [or her] deny himself [or herself], and take up his [or her] cross, and follow Me.” It is all about our following Jesus, and to do so we must deny ourselves, take up our cross an emblem of suffering, and follow Him.
Something More To Consider:
It is when we get our eyes off of Jesus and His Word, and on someone or something else that we find ourselves in troubled territory. We are to stay completely clear of comparisons and our being concerned of another servant’s calling because true life in Christ begins at the foot of the cross for everyone who desires to follow Jesus.
We are to pray for our brother and sister servants as they labor in their calling and election that has been appointed them by the Lord. It is when we begin to compare or concern ourselves with their success that envy and jealousy begins to settle in. Let us rather submit to and be satisfied with God’s will, plan, and purpose for our individual lives. It is then when we become faithful and equal servants of Jesus Christ.
A Few Final Words:
Did Jesus deal with Peter’s failure of faith and his denial that he ever knew Him? Yes! Did He do so publicly or privately? I believe Scripture reveals that Jesus did so privately, as is the case with us as well, unless we are in total rebellion. And if so, the private encounter may be forced to became public!
The spiritual business of others, is the spiritual business of the Lord and that other brother or sister. Our spiritual role is to faithfully be found following Jesus.
Therefore, “Jesus said to him [Peter], ‘If I will that he [John] remain till I come [till I return], what is that to you? You follow Me.’”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, keep our hearts and minds focused on serving and following Jesus Christ. Teach us to pray for other faithful servants of the Lord as we see the day of Your second coming approaching. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 