The "So What's It To Ya'?" Passage

• John 21:21 (NIV84)
• John 21:22 (NIV84)

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I've always liked this particular passage of scripture because it speaks to an important part of the Christian life. Back in my home church, we used to sing a song that went:

What God has for you is for you.
What God has for you is for you.
I know without a doubt,
He will surely bring you out.
What God has for you is for you.

It's easy to get caught up in what we're going through. During times of intense hardship, suffering, or even intense joy and satisfaction it's hard not to get rather self-absorbed and ignore what's going on around us. That's OK, because that's life and we're human.

However, the mistake I make is thinking that everyone is going through the same thing. We forget that many have trod the dark path we currently on before us, and that many more will follow us. Also, happy things may be happening to someone else while we're suffering, or we're being blessed while others suffer. Sometimes, like Peter, we want to know what's going to happen to someone else, especially if we think that they are the "favored one" like Peter here with the Apostle John.

But the important part of the response of Jesus to Peter was "...but you follow me." While Peter's destiny was made known to him, and John's was still clouded in mystery, Christ commands Peter to simply, "Follow me." While others may support us in prayer, financially, emotionally, and physically, there is a path we have to walk and a cross that we have to bear - ourselves. Jesus promises to be there with us, because we're following Him.

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