The Conclusion?

Sufferings, pains, and death, will appear formidable even to the experienced Christian. But in the hope to glorify God, to leave a sinful world, and to be present with their Lord, they becomes ready to obey the Redeemer's call, and to follow Him even through death to glory. - Matthew Henry

Peter fell back into his old impulsive ways even here. Seeing John nearby, he wants to know about his destiny. What would his future be? Now Peter might have meant, “I'm more concerned about my brother John.” But knowing how impulsive Peter was at that time it is more likely that he would have responded to this prophecy by saying, “Well if I have to die, so does John.” How much like Peter are so many of us. We are so prone to run other people’s lives, to work out the arrangements for what a father, a daughter, a pastor, or a deacon should be doing. This morning as we look at the last of John's Gospel, see how Christ Jesus addresses this issue and see how the apostle closes his book. 

John 21:20-25
20 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?") 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.  

1. That's None Of Your Business (vs. 20-23)

How many of you have heard the cry, “It's not fair!” Usually that is something you might hear from a child during a game or when something is divided out to them. Sadly this cry of unfair is not limited to children, or even non-believers. Peter's statement was a perfect example of this. John’s future was not Peter’s concern. That was all in the hands of the Lord, Christ Jesus. He could let him live until He returned if He so willed.

Times have not changed. It is still the will of Christ Jesus that his disciples should tend to their own duty, and not be curious about future events, either as to themselves or others. Many things that we might be apt to be anxious about, really should be nothing to us.

Other people's personal matters should not be our concern, unless it goes against the teachings of Christ Jesus. To keep from meddling we must quietly work, and mind our own business. If we attend to the duty of following Christ, we will neither have the heart or the time to meddle with that which does not concern us.

The church is not a hierarchy, with overseers telling others what God's will is for them. The church is the body of believers, and each believer is directly connected with Christ Jesus, the church's living head. We each are to love and follow Him—and let others follow where they are led. The important principle here is, we're to concentrate on following where Christ Jesus leads us. And we're to let others follow where He leads them.

Because of Peter's question a rumor got around that John would live until Christ Jesus returned. This happened because the other disciples misunderstood what Christ Jesus said. So John had to clarify what Christ Jesus had really said. People even in the believing community, did not hear correctly and therefore passed on confusing information which had to be corrected. It is the same today.

Have you heard the phrase, “It's an unwritten law or rule.” Let me ask you, “Can unwritten traditions to be relied upon more than the Scriptures?” Let the Scripture be its own interpreter, and explain itself; as it is its own evidence, and proves itself over and over, it is Light. The Scripture is the safest and really the only way to find Scriptural truth. When Christians can't seem to agree on anything else we should agree on the Scriptures, God's Holy Word.

2. This Is The Testimony (vs. 24-25)

This testimony of “the disciple,” the writer John, is true (v. 24). He has given us his witness out of the believing community in which Christ Jesus dwelt. And these early Christians said “we know that his testimony is true.” The witness we bear to Christ Jesus is never made alone, but always out of the company of those who know He is alive. And in a larger sense, we are surrounded and encouraged by all the hosts of heaven. 

It is said that that verse 25 is a hyperbole, and a deliberate exaggeration for dramatic effect on John's part. John wanted his readers to witness the “unlimited Christ.” The words and works of Christ Jesus were much more than could be recorded. John's Gospel, the other Gospels, the entire Bible could not contain all Christ Jesus' words and works. There is not enough books in the world to contain the whole story of Christ Jesus, who is the first and the last. Perhaps this is why we need eternity, so that we can praise God for all His acts of grace. But, now John’s testimony is complete, and all we need to point us to faith and life, which is Christ Jesus.

Conclusion: The world is full of evils-scepticism, superstition, ignorance, immorality, on every side—a sight saddening in the extreme. If this is the case, “Then what am I to do?”

This one thing above all: Follow Christ Jesus. Be a believer, and be a witness to those who are not. Let your faith be in Christ and Christ alone. Through love show those who pin their faith on a fallible human authority, and place their belief in fantastic ritualisms and gross idolatries.

Be holy, an example of moderation, justice, and godliness, even if all the world becomes a sweltering chaos of impurity, fraud, and unrighteousness. Remember the words of Joshua, “If it seem good unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Well we have come to the end of our study in the Book of John. I pray you have enjoyed it.