The verse from John 21:23 (KJV) reads, "Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" This passage is a profound reminder of the mystery and majesty of God’s divine purpose, a truth that remains relevant and essential for us today.

In this text, we find ourselves in the closing chapters of the Gospel of John, where Jesus, after His resurrection, is reinstating Peter and providing prophetic insight into the future of His beloved disciples. The heart of this scripture speaks not only to the fate of John, the disciple referenced, but more significantly to the nature of divine intention, expectation, and the appropriate response of the believers—especially Peter.

At first glance, Jesus’ statement seems almost cryptic. The remark circulating among the brethren—implying that John would not die—was based on misunderstanding. They hastily interpreted Jesus’ words without grasping the full context and meaning. This illustrates the tendency of humanity to conjecture about God’s plans or to speculate about His will concerning others; often leading to confusion and potential discord among believers.

The crux of Jesus’ response to Peter about John is a gentle yet powerful redirection of focus. He poses a rhetorical question, "What is that to thee?" This question serves as a divine reminder to each one of us that our individual paths and God’s sovereign choices—concerning both our lives and the lives of our brethren—are shaped by His prerogatives and wisdom. The call here is to embrace the reality that our focus should not be on others’ destinies but rather on how we are called to follow Him.

Peter, like many of us, was somewhat preoccupied with comparing his journey to that of John’s. In our daily lives, we often face the same temptation. We look around at those God has placed in our lives, and we begin to measure ourselves against them. We ask questions about why certain outcomes happen in other people's lives. We may even question God about His fairness in distributing blessings or trials. Jesus, however, beckons us to focus on our relationship with Him, to consider what it means to follow Him authentically, regardless of what happens to others.

The phrase "If I will that he tarry till I come…" emphasizes God’s sovereign authority over His creation. God’s plans are intricate and individualized; He assigns different roles and different lengths of life to each person according to His purpose. This understanding should comfort us—not only as we navigate our own callings but also as we rejoice in the successes and the burdens carried by our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our task is not to be envious of another’s journey or to dwell on what we perceive as inequalities, but rather, it is to surrender our will and our timelines to God.

As Christians, we are called to focus on our personal relationship with Jesus and to trust in His divine plan. Each day presents a choice whether to follow Christ closely or to become distracted by the circumstances and lives of those around us. This word from Christ teaches us to center our hearts and minds on following Him—obeying His commands, serving others, and deepening our faith without concern for comparisons to others’ experiences.

In conclusion, let us heed Jesus’ question and move beyond comparisons. Instead, let us take up our cross, embrace our unique calling, and trust in God’s purposeful plan for each of us. The journey may look different for each disciple, but we share the same Lord, the same mission to glorify Him. May we find peace and inspiration in John 21:23, rejoicing in the freedom that comes with abandoning the need to know or control others’ destinies, and fully committing ourselves to our own journey of faith.