What is That to Thee?

John 21:21-23, “Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do ? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”

Jesus returns to His disciples after He had risen from the dead. They had left the work of Christ to go fishing. That night they had caught nothing. Jesus called to them from the shore to cast their nets on the other side. The Bible says that their boats began to sank because of the multitude of fish that were in the net. When they reached the shore, Jesus was there already cooking some fish to eat.

While the disciples sat around and were eating, Jesus focused on Peter. He asked Peter if he loved Jesus. He asked him three times, “Lovest thou me?” After the third time Peter said, “What shall this man do?” Peter was saying, “Well, what about this guy?” Peter began pointing to those around him. He was trying to make excuses. He was trying to justify himself. He was comparing himself to those around him. II Corinthians 10:12, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” God’s Word says it is not wise to compare ourselves among ourselves. Let’s not use others as excuses as to why we don’t follow the Lord with all our hearts. Like Jesus said, “What is that to thee?” Why does this matter. We know that one day we will have to answer to God for our actions, not the actions of others. Let us do what we know we are supposed to do today and not make excuses.