Following Jesus: John 21: 20-25

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:23:37 -0600

“...follow thou me.”

Peter and John may have considered themselves friendly rivals for leadership among the disciples. Peter's first reaction on being told to follow Jesus was to ask about John's role. John, on the other hand, conceded that Peter was given the most authority, then quickly asserted that he was the most beloved apostle. Each man compared himself to the other.

Comparing ourselves to other people is something we all do.

Studies show that much of our sense of self-worth and happiness is based on how we think we are doing relative to others. The usual benchmarks of success are money, power, status and prestige. But, if that is the case, it's important to think through who we choose to compare ourselves to. It's one thing to keep up with the Jones; it's quite another thing to try to keep up with Donald Trump. For that matter, Trump's TV series was canceled so the Donald has troubles of his own. There will always be somebody somewhere living larger than we are.

Notice how Jesus responded to Peter's question about John's role in the kingdom. Basically, He said, ‘What is that to you? Your job is to follow me.’

What Jesus was saying to Peter, and to all of us, is that our focus should be on Him, not on the Jones, our co-workers, competitors or celebrities. They are not our concern. He is. We are called to follow His example just as Peter did.

Jesus’ prized obedience to the will of God above all else. He set the ultimate example of success when He died for us on the cross.

Jesus is the only one we need compare ourselves to. Once He becomes the measure of our success, the basis of our self-worth and happiness shifts. We seek meaning and purpose in life through spiritual growth. We find fulfillment in reaching out to others and in helping them become all they can be. And, we attain the peace of mind that comes from knowing we are following in the Master's footsteps.

Successful Living

Following Jesus: John 21: 20-25