Deflection and rumours

How often when told we must do something do we respond with, “What about them?” Perhaps we do it to try to emphasise that what we must do is too much, or perhaps we are trying to deflect attention away from ourselves. How often do we hear something and, as it gets passed around by various people, it gets blown out of proportion to what was initially said? We see both of these in Jesus’ last conversation that John recorded.

“‘Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’” (John 21:18-21 NIV)

Jesus had just told Peter what would happen to him in old age. It isn’t difficult to decipher what Jesus was saying – if someone would take him where he did not want to go it indicates that he would be bound, imprisoned. Some see in the phrase ‘stretch out your hands’ that he would be crucified (Jesus did say that he was indicating the kind of death that Peter would have). Although this would not happen until he was old, it was not something to look forward to.

John was nearby. John was a trusted business colleague of Peter’s and, it would seem, a good friend. If this was what Peter would have to face, what about John? Would his be as bad or even worse? Sadly, it seems that Peter was getting distracted by what Jesus was calling him to do.

“Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’ Because of this, the rumour spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’” (John 21:22-23)

What was Jesus saying? Basically, in a polite way, he was saying “mind your own business”! What would happen to John was not of concern to Peter’s following Jesus faithfully. Peter’s concern had to be make sure he was following Jesus (keep in mind that Peter had recently denied Jesus three times after boasting that he never would). Perhaps that is a lesson for us, too – rather than being concerned about what everyone else is doing we need to make sure we are following Jesus. This is not to say we shouldn’t be concerned about others, but our focus must be to make sure that we are following him.

What Jesus said to Peter grew arms and legs and started a rumour going around that John would never die. As the writer accurately pointed out – this is not what Jesus said. What Jesus said was simple: if he wanted John to stay alive until Jesus returned, that was not of concern to Peter – or to anyone else for that matter!

How easy it is to take something said to someone else and allow it to be blown out of proportion until it really doesn’t resemble what was originally said. This should be a warning to us: we need to listen carefully to what is said and not go around repeating something about someone else.

If we make sure that we are remaining faithful to Jesus we won’t have problems having our attention diverted by what others are doing or by rumours that are spread. We need to concentrate on following Jesus!

Photo by Jon Galloway, inside Church of the Primacy of Peter, Galilee.

Readings for next week: John 20-21; 1 Thessalonians 1-5; 2 Thessalonians 1-3