John 21:20

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

During a private walk by the sea at Christ's final meeting with His disciples, after He had restored Peter and told him what would happen to him and appointed him to care for the flock, Peter turned about and saw John following behind them and asked what John would do and what would happen to him. The disciple following was John, who held a special place in Jesus' friendship and was the same one who had leaned on His breast at supper and asked who would betray Him. Jesus' answer was not a promise that John would live until the second coming, but an assertion of Christ's authority over John's future showing that John's fate did not change Peter's duty. Peter should have trusted Jesus to reveal only what was best for him to know, for the future of both was in the Lord's hands, and Christ met his curiosity about another man's work with the individual commission to follow Him, meaning each disciple is to obey Christ himself without undue anxiety about the work, duty, or future assigned to another. Peter was then humble enough to understand, and the restless, boastful, self-confident disciple became subdued and contrite and indeed followed the Lord he had denied, knowing that close partaking of Christ's sufferings will bring partaking of His glory when He shall sit upon the throne of His glory.

Setting by the Sea

John 21:20 belongs to Jesus meeting His disciples in Galilee after the Passover week, after they had stayed in Jerusalem until the feast ended and then went as He had directed. Seven disciples had gathered there in Galilee after He had taught and prepared them to lead others to the truth. It happened near the Sea of Galilee, where they had come together in a quiet place where they would not be disturbed.

The place was surrounded by reminders of Jesus and His mighty works, and their minds were full of His words and deeds. On that sea He had walked upon the waves to rescue them when terror filled their hearts in the fierce storm, and there He had hushed the tempest by His word. Within sight was the beach where above ten thousand persons had been fed from a few small loaves and fishes, and not far distant was Capernaum, the scene of many miracles.

It took place during a private walk with Jesus at this final meeting by the sea, after He had told Peter what would happen to him. At that meeting He had restored Peter by testing his love and appointing him to care for the flock, with direction to follow. Then Peter turned about and saw John following behind them, and pointed to him to ask what John would do and what would happen to him.

Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

The disciple whom Jesus loved is John, who held a special place in Jesus' friendship and received signs of His confidence and love. He is the same one who had leaned on Jesus' breast at supper and asked who would betray Him, and who was now seen behind Peter at the meeting by the sea. At that final meeting Jesus restored Peter after testing his love, appointed him to care for the flock, and told him to follow.

Jesus loved John most because John most closely imitated Christ's character and was filled with the spirit of love, and his closeness to Jesus belongs with that imitation and love. Though grown old in God's service and thought by men to be past service and usefulness, broken and exiled to the isle of Patmos, he was not forgotten by God but honored by His presence for faithfulness. God still used him there, and gave to him as an aged man the most glorious truths concerning the last chapters of this earth's history.

Following Christ Individually

Jesus' reply about John was no promise that John would live until the second coming, but an assertion of His own authority over John's future, showing that whatever became of John did not alter Peter's duty to follow Christ. During his private walk with Jesus, Peter turned about and saw John following behind them, and was stirred to want to know John's future; he should have trusted Jesus to reveal only what was best for him to know without inquiry, since the future of both Peter and John was in the Lord's hands. Jesus met that curiosity about another man's future and work with the individual commission, Follow thou me, meaning no one need be curious to know what another will do, but each one's work is to follow Christ himself, a commission given to all, so that each disciple is to obey Christ without undue anxiety or concern about the work, duty, or future assigned to another.

Because the work is individual, believers must not look at another to point out defects of character, but must let the world go out of reckoning and let eternal realities come in, keeping the eye single to the glory of God and being Christians at home. Peter was then humble enough to understand the meaning, and the restless, boastful, self-confident disciple became subdued and contrite and indeed followed the Lord he had denied, with light and comfort and blessing in the thought that Christ had not denied and rejected him. His close partaking of Christ's sufferings will bring partaking of His glory when He shall sit upon the throne of His glory.

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