Today's passage: John 21:20-25
Helpful thoughts:
- The man Peter looked at was John, the writer of this gospel account.
- What Jesus said to Peter was misunderstood in the early church. John died before Jesus returned.
- Jesus was instructing Peter to run his own race. God had a purpose for Peter and a purpose for John. Peter needed to keep his eyes on Jesus and not play the comparison game.
- We can study the Word of God our whole lives and still not know everything He did and said. There is so much more for us to learn when we are with Him in glory!
- That being said, everything we need to know has been given to us in the Scriptures. God has not left us ignorant or incapable of following Him (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3).
Questions to consider:
- What are some different reasons why this conversation was included at the end of the Gospel of John? What doctrinal error did it correct? What lesson does it teach?
- By what standard do we usually play the comparison game? What kinds of things make us feel inferior (or superior) to others? What has God called us to be (1 Corinthians 4:2)? To whom are we to remain faithful, regardless of where “our race” (God's sovereign will) takes us?
- Will we ever grow tired of learning more about the Lord? Why will eternity never be boring?
- Who could you encourage to trust in Jesus so they too can enjoy the Lord forever?