Transforming (phase 4) - Jesus appears to the disciples on the lakeshore (step 31) - session 1f

Jn 21 (cont.)

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?"

When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" 

Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" 

The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" 

This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. - (20-24)

It seems to me that this story would be important if, as most scholars hold, St. John's gospel didn't take it's final form - and especially if Chapter 21 were not added - until after his death. Even if he wrote it himself near the end of his life, it would be important for him to address any belief in the community that the Lord would return before his passing.

But the important part for us is probably in verse 22: why do we focus so much on the blessing which others receive? Why do we long for a miracle of our own, or for a certainty in our faith that others seem to possess? What is that to us? We are to follow Jesus in the role he has for us.

But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. - (20-25)

If Jesus is who we believe him to be, it is of course impossible for the world to contain all the books that would be written, in addition to containing itself, all of which he has done!