Stay in your own lane

By Steve Leininger

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052723.cfm
Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
John 21:20-25

To better understand today’s gospel, we need to do a bit of a refresher on the apostle Peter. He was one of the first disciples of Jesus, and was in fact introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew, as recorded in the first chapter of the Gospel of John:

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John (the Baptist) and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah.”
Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” [John 1:40-43]

Language scholars tell us that Peter, from the Greek petra, further translates into “rock.” This becomes important when Peter correctly answers the question of the true identity of Jesus. This was recorded in all 4 gospels, and is detailed in the Gospel of Matthew:

Jesus said to the apostles, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  [Matthew 16:15-19]

Peter pretty much hit this one out of the park. But the victory doesn’t last long. Jesus gives the first prediction of his upcoming death and resurrection:

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.”
He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” [Matthew 16:21-23]

Ouch!! From having the keys to the kingdom to satanic obstacle in the same chapter. Such is the frustration of Jesus with his hand-picked apostles. 

A huge part of Jesus’ ministry and his final trip to Jerusalem will not be recounted here. Let’s jump ahead to just after the Last Supper, when Jesus tells the apostles, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken.”
Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.”
Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”
Peter said to him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke likewise. [Matthew 26:33-35]

Jesus, of course, was correct. After Jesus’ arrest, Peter did indeed deny that he knew Jesus or was a part of his close followers - - three times as predicted.

That almost brings up to today’s reading from the last chapter of the Gospel of John. This last chapter details the appearance of Jesus at the sea of Tiberias. The trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection have all recently occurred. The chapter begins with unsuccessful fishing, advice from an unrecognized Jesus who is standing on the shore, and the successful catching of 153 fish. When John recognizes Jesus, all come ashore, Peter hastily wades on in ahead of the boat.

Jesus gave the seven disciples that were there fish and bread. Jesus knew that Peter was among the strongest of his followers. But there was that denial thing a few weeks earlier that needed to be addressed. Note that Jesus is calling Peter by his given, Simon, the name he grew up with, not Peter, the rock upon which the church would be built. 

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep.” [John 21:15-17]

This three-part discourse is considered by some to be the redemption of Peter, who denied Jesus 3 times (as predicted) after Jesus’ betrayal and arrest. After getting Peter’s assurances of his love for Jesus, Jesus tells Peter “Follow me.”

That brings us to today’s gospel reading, the last 6 verses in the Gospel of John. Let’s look at the first 4 of these verses:

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved,
the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper
and had said, "Master, who is the one who will betray you?"
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"
Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?  
You follow me." 

So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.

But Jesus had not told him that he would not die,
just "What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?" [John 21:20-23]

Too many pronouns! Which “him” are we reading about? And what is the main message? A little context here may be helpful.  

Let’s go back to today’s reading, with a bit of deciphering:

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved [John, as he referred to himself], the one [John] who had also reclined upon his [Jesus’] chest during the supper and had said, "Master, who is the one who will betray you?"  When Peter saw him [John], he [Peter] said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him [John]?"

Jesus said to him [Peter], "What if I want him [John] to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?   You follow me." So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple [John] would not die. But Jesus had not told him [Peter] that he [John] would not die, just "What if I want him [John] to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?" [John 21:20-23, deciphered]

So Peter is pretty much being told not to worry about what Jesus is going to do or God’s will and to rather “Follow me”, which includes the tasks feed my lambs, tend my sheep, and feed my sheep. And “What concern is it of yours?” is a strong reminder to stay in your own lane and God will take care of “God’s concerns.”

The gospel concludes with John’s affirmation, certification, and seal of approval:

It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the booksthat would be written. [John 21:24-25]