Lesson 4589

(Lesson 4589)(08-27-24) John 21:20-25 

   “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? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 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 is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” 

  

   In today’s quote, Peter, noticing (John) the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, asked Jesus about his fate. Jesus responded that if He willed that the disciple remain until His return, it was not Peter's concern, instructing Peter to focus only on following Him. That led to a rumor that John would not die, but Jesus had not said that. The narrative concluded with a statement affirming that John was the one who wrote those things and testified to their truth. It ended by John’s acknowledgment that if all of Jesus' deeds were recorded, the world could not contain the books that would be written.  

I find it incredibly odd that neither Luke’s nor John’s gospel makes mention of the Great Commission whereby Jesus related His final instructions to the apostles as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:16. ~