Looking Over the Shoulder
During the season of Lent, I've been re-reading John's Gospel. John is so very different from the other three Gospels, giving us a different perspective on Jesus and especially on the events of the last week and last day of Jesus' life. I usually tell people it's as if John knows we've already read the others; he wants us to know "the rest of the story." So instead of the Last Supper we get the foot washing. Instead of the parables, we get seven signs. And instead of a final commission, we get a gentle reminder.
The scene at the end of the Gospel is powerful, profound and, in many ways, understated. It's after breakfast on the beach (fish for breakfast? Ugh!) and Jesus takes Peter on a walk. Much is made of Jesus' reinstatement of Peter (Jesus asks Peter if Peter loves him one time for each denial), but it's the scene that takes place immediately after that (the very last scene in the Gospel) which intrigues me. Peter has just declared his love for Jesus three different times, and then he turns and looks over his shoulder. Who does he see there? John, who has apparently been following along at a distance, curious as to why Jesus is taking Peter on a walk.
"Lord," Peter says, "What about him?" (John 21:21).
Lord, I know I'm special because you've taken me on this walk. Lord, I know I'm one of your favorites. Lord, I know you have great things planned for me because you told me you'd build the church on me. Lord, I know you love me...but what about him?
Peter still is struggling to "get it." He's declared his love for Jesus, but he can't help looking around to see who else might be trying to take away his special position with Jesus. And, sure enough, there's John, sneaking along behind. What about him? Aren't I more special than him? What do you want him to do, Jesus?
Jesus, in words that are more compassionate than Peter realizes right now, tells Peter that his plans for John are really none of Peter's business. "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me" (21:22). Focus on the main thing, Peter, and only that. You worry about your own relationship to me, and let John take care of his relationship to me. My plans for him are not your concern. You follow me. You be faithful to the faith I've called you to.
As believers in this day, we are often guilty of doing the same thing Peter did—looking over our proverbial shoulder at what others are doing. Social media has made this infinitely easier (though, I don't know if you know this or not, but most people's lives are not as great as they portray them to be on Facebook). We do this particularly in terms of the ways we live out or practice our faith. Often the things we judge others on are not even Biblical issues; they are matters of preference. For instance, I've known people who believe it's better to read your Bible in the morning and they look over their shoulders, see people who believe it's better to read it in the evenings, and in essence say to Jesus, "What about them? They're doing it wrong!" I've seen it come up in matters of worship, modes of baptism and communion, what should or shouldn't be done in a worship space, who can or can't lead worship and so on. I had someone once threaten to leave the church over the color of paint on the walls of the worship space! We get wrapped up in preferences, strongly held though they may be, and then we look over our shoulder and say, "What about them? Those others who do it wrong?"
And Jesus looks at us and gives us the most compassionate response he can: "You must follow me." It's too great a burden to have to worry about everyone else, to expect them to conform to the way Jesus has asked me to shape my faith in him. It's far easier (though it's not easy!) to stop looking over our shoulders and just follow Jesus the best we can.
 |
| Sea of Galilee, 2014 |
"Lord," Peter says, "What about him?" (John 21:21).
Lord, I know I'm special because you've taken me on this walk. Lord, I know I'm one of your favorites. Lord, I know you have great things planned for me because you told me you'd build the church on me. Lord, I know you love me...but what about him?
Peter still is struggling to "get it." He's declared his love for Jesus, but he can't help looking around to see who else might be trying to take away his special position with Jesus. And, sure enough, there's John, sneaking along behind. What about him? Aren't I more special than him? What do you want him to do, Jesus?
Jesus, in words that are more compassionate than Peter realizes right now, tells Peter that his plans for John are really none of Peter's business. "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me" (21:22). Focus on the main thing, Peter, and only that. You worry about your own relationship to me, and let John take care of his relationship to me. My plans for him are not your concern. You follow me. You be faithful to the faith I've called you to.
As believers in this day, we are often guilty of doing the same thing Peter did—looking over our proverbial shoulder at what others are doing. Social media has made this infinitely easier (though, I don't know if you know this or not, but most people's lives are not as great as they portray them to be on Facebook). We do this particularly in terms of the ways we live out or practice our faith. Often the things we judge others on are not even Biblical issues; they are matters of preference. For instance, I've known people who believe it's better to read your Bible in the morning and they look over their shoulders, see people who believe it's better to read it in the evenings, and in essence say to Jesus, "What about them? They're doing it wrong!" I've seen it come up in matters of worship, modes of baptism and communion, what should or shouldn't be done in a worship space, who can or can't lead worship and so on. I had someone once threaten to leave the church over the color of paint on the walls of the worship space! We get wrapped up in preferences, strongly held though they may be, and then we look over our shoulder and say, "What about them? Those others who do it wrong?"
And Jesus looks at us and gives us the most compassionate response he can: "You must follow me." It's too great a burden to have to worry about everyone else, to expect them to conform to the way Jesus has asked me to shape my faith in him. It's far easier (though it's not easy!) to stop looking over our shoulders and just follow Jesus the best we can.
Comments
Post a Comment