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Chapter 131

“What is that to Thee?”

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:18-25)

In the New Testament, every time anyone came to our Lord and complained to him about what someone else was doing, or was not doing, what someone else might do or might not do, he rebuked them sharply (Luke 9:49-50; 10:38-50; John 21:18-25).

Background

The Lord Jesus gave his last message to his disciples. You can read the Savior’s final instructions to his Church in chapters 13-16. In chapter 17, he offered his great high priestly prayer to God the Father as our Mediator. Then, in chapter 18, we see him in the garden, praying with Peter, James, and John, anticipating all that he must suffer as our Substitute, when a band of soldiers, led by Judas, came to arrest him.

When these soldiers came to arrest him, Peter arose immediately to defend his Master, without regard for his own life (v. 10). Our Savior voluntarily gave himself up to be crucified by wicked men, but only upon the condition that his own elect would be spared (vv. 8-12). The Savior was led away to the judgment hall, where Peter denied him three times (18:27).

Then, our blessed Substitute accomplished our redemption by the sacrifice of himself upon the cursed tree (19:28-30). On the third day[1], early in the morning, the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the grave, triumphing over it for us (20:1-17). He appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. He appeared to the disciples, Thomas being absent. Then he appeared to them one week later when Thomas was present. Now, in chapter 21, he appears a third time to his disciples, specifically to restore Peter, to confirm his love to Peter, and to confirm (in Peter’s own mind) Peter’s love to him.

            You know the story. When Peter had publicly confessed, “Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee,” the Lord gave him this charge — “Feed my sheep.” Peter had denied his Master three times. Here he confesses his heartfelt love for Christ three times, and is commissioned by the Lord three times to feed His people. Now, read verse 22. — “Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”

The Question

“What is that to thee?” That is the question I want to address. John concludes his Gospel narrative, and our Lord Jesus here concludes his time on earth by teaching Peter and us a lesson that is very hard for us to learn. — We must leave God’s servants and God’s people to God’s care. — “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).

God’s people are God’s people. They’re not yours; and they’re not mine. They’re his. God’s servants are God’s servants. They’re not yours; and they’re not mine. They’re his. I sure wish we could learn that! They are not to be judged by us. They are not to be controlled by us. Their lives are not to be run by us. Religion binds people. Christ sets them free.

      It is absolutely none of your business or mine how someone else serves Christ. It is none of your business or mine what someone else does for his Master, or doesn’t do. It is none of your business or mine what someone else gives, or doesn’t give. The Lord God almighty is perfectly capable of taking care of his own. Besides, most of us have a full time job, with plenty of overtime, taking care of ourselves! So let us “study to be quiet, and to do our own business, and to work with our own hands,” as we have been commanded (1 Thessalonians 4:11). — It is absolutely none of your business or mine how someone else serves Christ. — “To his own Master he stands or falls.”

Grace Assured

The Lord Jesus told Peter how that he would be required to suffer and die for the glory of God. Impetuous and sometimes fickle in his youth, Peter was assured that in the end he would be faithful unto death. And he was. He was crucified at Rome because of his faithfulness to Christ. When the Lord Jesus gave Peter this word of assurance, he said to him, “Follow me” (vv. 18-19).

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

An Evil Question

Then, as they walked along the beach, Peter saw John following. That is what a disciple is supposed to do. But when Peter saw John, he said, “Lord, you have told me what I must do, but what about John, what is he to do?” — (vv. 20-21)

“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?”

            That may appear to be a perfectly innocent question; but it was horribly evil. It was a question that arose from Peter’s proud heart. It ought never to have been asked. It was a question that would, if entertained, be sure to cause a division among the Lord’s disciples and lead to other evils. At that point, the Lord must have stopped, turned to Peter, and looking squarely into his eyes, he gave this stern admonition and reproof — “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me” (v. 22).

            Here is a message directly from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ to you and me. He says, “What is that to thee? Follow thou me!” It is our responsibility in all things ever to follow Christ; but it is never our responsibility to determine what another disciple is doing, or even concern ourselves about what another is doing or not doing. If we could learn this one thing, it would put an end to every problem there is in the Church and Kingdom of God. All the strife and division that exists among true believers can be traced to this one, proud evil. — We all concern ourselves with what others are doing and not doing, when we ought to concern ourselves only with what the Lord would have us do.

Our Primary Responsibility

Our primary responsibility in life is to follow Christ. I know the consequences, ramifications, and implications of what I am saying. I know what it will cost us if we dare to do what the Lord commands. But, oh how I pray that God will give us grace to hear and obey his Word.

            The main business of your life and mine, the primary, all-consuming business of your life and mine is to follow Christ. We live in vain if we do not live for God! Indeed, it were better for you and me had we never been born, than that we should live and die without Christ. The Lord Jesus says to you and me, “Follow me…Follow thou me!”

            This is the command of the Gospel. Many today try to separate salvation from discipleship. They suggest that there may be faith in Christ without the following of Christ. But that is not so. In Bible terms, to believe on Christ is to follow Christ (Matthew 4:18-22; 16:24-26; 19:20-22).

            If you are yet without Christ, you would be wise to make the salvation of your immortal soul the primary concern of your life. Make your soul your first care, if necessary, to the neglect of all other things. What shall it profit you, if you should gain the whole world and lose your own soul? If you are without Christ, you are under the wrath of God, cursed and condemned because of your sin. If you die without Christ, you shall forever suffer the wrath of God in hell. Will you follow Christ and be forever saved; or will you follow your own devices and be forever damned? (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19). To follow Christ is to seek him. To follow Christ is to trust him. To follow Christ is to submit to his dominion as your Lord. To follow Christ is to be saved by him. — “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” This is the Lord’s commandment to you: — “Follow thou me!”

            This is also the character of faith. Faith follows Christ. My brothers and sisters in the grace of God, having been saved by Christ, having been washed in his precious blood, robed in his perfect righteousness, and born again by his Holy Spirit, our Master’s word to us is — “Follow thou me!”

            The main, primary, all-encompassing business of our lives is to follow Christ. When sin is pardoned and salvation is secure, the one thing we must do is follow Christ. Peter was a believer, a preacher, and an Apostle. And this was our Lord’s command to him: — “Follow Me…Follow thou Me!” C. H. Spurgeon said, “The one thing we are to aim at is, to tread in Christ’s footsteps, to do what he did; and, as far as he is imitable by us, to do it as he did it, and to be as he was in the midst of the sons and daughters of men.” It is our business in this world to imitate the Son of God in all things. That is what the grace of God teaches all who are taught of God (Titus 2:11-14).

            A disciple is one who learns to live the life his teacher lives. Discipleship is more than getting to know what the teacher teaches. It is getting to be what the teacher is. And Christianity is more than believing the doctrine of Christ. Christianity is following Christ. It is seeking to mold my life after Christ. If I am a child of God, I am not a follower of Calvin, Gill, or Spurgeon, or any other mere man. I am a follower of Christ. I seek to mold my doctrine, my thoughts, my words, my character, and my deeds after the example of Christ. Christ himself is the rule and pattern of my life (John 13:15; 1 Peter 2:21).

      We are trees of God’s planting, set in his vineyard to bring forth fruit for God’s praise. If we would do what we were created to do, we must follow Christ. This is the life, the character, and the business of faith (Philippians 3:7-21).

            God has given every believer a place, position, and gifts in which to serve him, which no one else can occupy. This is the vocation to which we are called. No matter what your earthly occupation is, if you are in Christ, you are first and foremost his servant. That is your occupation. God has put you where you are, with the gifts, talents, abilities, and opportunities you have to influence and minister to other people, people no one else can reach, for the glory of his name. All saved sinners are missionaries. All saved sinners are his witnesses. That is what a missionary is — His Witness! All saved sinners are martyrs, men and women who voluntarily lay down their lives for him, in his cause.

      I do not believe that any child of God was created just to run a business, keep records, build houses, connect water pipes, sell insurance, or teach school There is something greater for you and me to do. We were created to serve the cause of God our Savior in the place of our calling, for the glory of his name (1 Corinthians 7:20-24). God has put you and me where we are, with the gifts, talents, and means we have to seek the salvation of those people who are under our influence for the glory of his name (John 20:21; Hebrews 12:1-2). This is your life’s business, occupation, and calling: — “Follow thou me!”

Voluntary Subjugation

If we would follow Christ, we must subject everything to his sovereign will. When Peter learned what he must suffer and endure for Christ, he looked at John and said, “And what shall this man do?” And the Lord’s answer to him was, “What is that to thee? Follow thou Me!”

            If we would follow Christ, we must not concern ourselves with the responsibilities of others. It is true that we are all members of the body of Christ. And we work and labor together for one cause — the glory of God. All God’s people together preach his Word, feed his sheep, and promote his glory. But each individual believer is the Lord’s servant. And we must recognize that every man stands or falls before his own Master. We must each be occupied with our own responsibilities, our own ministries, our own calling, and our own faithfulness. We must not concern ourselves with how, when, or where God is pleased to use others. We gladly help others as they serve Christ (missionaries, churches, pastors, etc.). But we must not seek to govern others in their service for Christ. We leave them in the hands of God. And we must not allow ourselves to be turned aside by others from our own responsibilities.

            I am not responsible for what God has called you to do. But I am responsible for what he has called me to do. What God does with you is his business. What you do for God is your business and his, not mine. What I do for God is my business and his, not yours (Romans 14:4). May God give us grace to cease being busybodies about other people’s business (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:14-16).

            If we would follow Christ, we must not concern ourselves with foolish and unlearned questions (2 Timothy 2:22-24). And if we would follow Christ, we must not concern ourselves with our own personal interests, needs, or relations. We must lose our life if we would save it. I must follow Christ whether my family follows him or not. I must follow Christ regardless of personal preference. I must follow Christ regardless of personal costs. And I must do so willingly (2 Timothy 2:8-10.

Most Reasonable

It is most reasonable that we should confine ourselves to this one life-long occupation – “Follow thou me!” —— I know that I am calling for costly commitment, commitment that requires of us many things contrary to the flesh, things that are often misunderstood and misrepresented by people around us. I am calling for you and me to give ourselves in unreserved, voluntary, whole-hearted commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel of his grace. Our Master says to you and me, “Follow thou me.” And his command is most reasonable.

·      He bought us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). — Shall we take that which belongs to Christ and waste it upon vanity?

·      Our powers are so limited. — I know some of my own limitations. I would like to use what little ability and the brief time God has given me in the work of following Christ, preaching the Gospel, and seeking to bring others to know, trust, worship, and follow him.

·      Our time is so limited! — “The time is short” (1 Corinthians 7:29). Let us therefore redeem the time we have (Ephesians 5:16) and use it wisely, following Christ!

            My brother, my sister, do not allow anyone to divert you from the straight path of obedience to Christ. To that, above everything else, we have been called. How I pray that we might, each of us, live to glorify God, that we might each be like an arrow shot from Christ’s bow, by his own pierced hand, to the target of God’s glory. Let nothing turn us aside from the path of obedience.

            I wonder what God would have us to do, individually and collectively, as members of the Church and Kingdom of God in this day. I wonder what God might do with us, if we will but obey his command and follow Christ. What does he yet have for us to do for Christ? What will he yet do with us in the service of his Kingdom?

            If you are God’s, you are all free men and women, free born children of God, I will not prescribe for you what to do. I simply call upon you to obey the direction of God the Holy Ghost and follow Christ. Perhaps, as you read these lines, you are thinking, “What can I do?” You are Christ’s witness; so tell sinners about him. Use your time and money and ability to further the Gospel. Tell perishing sinners around you what wondrous things God has done for you and in you by his grace. Make it your business to minister to, to serve, God’s children in this world.

            Do everything you can to help one another along the way; but do not set in judgment over, or try to manipulate one another. What another does or does not do is absolutely none of your business or mine. Regarding all such matters, the Lord Jesus says to us, — “What is that to thee? Follow thou me!”

·      Follow Christ. — This is the command of the Gospel.

·      Follow Christ. — This is the life of faith.

·      If we do follow Christ now by faith, soon we will follow him home to heaven (John 13:36).

Don Fortner

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