What About Him? - by Greg Steggerda
Comparing yourself to someone else has been described as a cancer on the soul. I think that’s a helpful analogy because measuring ourselves against others metastasizes our usual motivations into pride or jealousy. But it’s natural, even for God’s people.
John 21 tells of when Jesus found his disciples back in Galilee, at work fishing. He coached them to one of the biggest catches they’ve ever had, and then took a walk with Peter. He and Peter had some unfinished business, a matter of a promise that Peter went back on and the three denials of Jesus he made on the night Jesus was arrested.
Then, after being forgiven and affirmed in his role as a church leader, and despite all this personal attention from Jesus, Peter did this, in verses 20-22:
“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’
“Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’”
The disciples had previously demonstrated how conscious they were of rank, and how badly they wanted to stand above each other. When Peter looks at a man who could be a rival and asks, “What about him?”, Jesus' answer is one that we all need to take to heart: “What is that to you?”
Some of us are going to have public, visible ministries; we’ll be well known in our churches and communities. Others serve one-on-one with visits and gifts of food, or even in silent solitude as staunch prayer warriors. We want to rank ourselves and our service, but this passage suggests to me that Jesus wouldn’t approve. How we relate to Jesus and what he calls us to do is very intimate and personal; it’s not anyone else’s business.
I think Jesus wants us to compare ourselves only to him; he should be the only one we try to please and his life on earth should be the only standard we’re trying to measure up against. And compared to Jesus, we’re all pretty much alike anyway. The only thing we have to brag about is our association with him.
John 21 tells of when Jesus found his disciples back in Galilee, at work fishing. He coached them to one of the biggest catches they’ve ever had, and then took a walk with Peter. He and Peter had some unfinished business, a matter of a promise that Peter went back on and the three denials of Jesus he made on the night Jesus was arrested.
Then, after being forgiven and affirmed in his role as a church leader, and despite all this personal attention from Jesus, Peter did this, in verses 20-22:
“Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’
“Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’”
The disciples had previously demonstrated how conscious they were of rank, and how badly they wanted to stand above each other. When Peter looks at a man who could be a rival and asks, “What about him?”, Jesus' answer is one that we all need to take to heart: “What is that to you?”
Some of us are going to have public, visible ministries; we’ll be well known in our churches and communities. Others serve one-on-one with visits and gifts of food, or even in silent solitude as staunch prayer warriors. We want to rank ourselves and our service, but this passage suggests to me that Jesus wouldn’t approve. How we relate to Jesus and what he calls us to do is very intimate and personal; it’s not anyone else’s business.
I think Jesus wants us to compare ourselves only to him; he should be the only one we try to please and his life on earth should be the only standard we’re trying to measure up against. And compared to Jesus, we’re all pretty much alike anyway. The only thing we have to brag about is our association with him.