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Book of John - Chapter 21 - Verse 22

21:22
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Meaning

In this verse from the Gospel of John, Jesus is speaking to Peter and addressing his concern about the fate of another disciple. Jesus responds by essentially telling Peter not to worry about what will happen to others, but instead to focus on following Him. This message emphasizes the importance of individual faith and obedience to Jesus, rather than being preoccupied with comparisons to others. By telling Peter to focus on following Him, Jesus is reminding all believers to prioritize their own relationship with Him and to trust in His plans for each person's life. This verse serves as a reminder to all Christians to remain faithful and obedient to Jesus, regardless of what others may be doing or what their individual futures may hold.

Theological Overview

Within this verse, the theological interpretation centers around the disciples' curiosity about the future of another disciple, John. Jesus' response emphasizes the unique path He has for each individual, indicating that it is not for us to concern ourselves with what plans God has for others, but rather to focus on following Him faithfully in our own lives. This highlights the importance of trusting in God's sovereign will and purpose for each person, without comparing or becoming distracted by the journeys of others. This verse serves as a reminder to stay focused on our personal relationship with Jesus and to live out our faith in obedience to His teachings, rather than being preoccupied with the specific details of others' journeys.

American Standard Version

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? Follow thou me.
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