Jesus asked Peter, "Simon, Son of John do you love me more than these?" "Simon, Son of John, do you love me?" "Simon. Son of John, do you love me?" Jesus was giving Peter a chance to tell Him what he should have lived out earlier when he denied Jesus three times. Then Jesus told Peter some of the details of the way that he would die. No sooner did Peter feel the heat of identifying with Jesus again did he look around and see someone else and ask,

"What about him?" That is when he heard Jesus say, "What is that to you? You follow me."

I can't imagine how Jesus must have felt. He had the just gone through the most horrific death, experienced excruciating emotional pain, endured brutal humiliation, and is now back to speak to the one who is the most headstrong and gregarious about his devotion to Him. When Jesus implied the kind of death he would have to die the first thing Peter does is complain. "What about him?" How come Peter didn't respond with,"That is nothing compared to what you just went through." or "When that time comes I won't deny you again." or "I want to obey the Father like you just did." or even better still, "I will bravely show the world that I love you! Thank you for investing in me and for loving me!"

It is so easy to judge Peter for being impulsive, faint of heart, and immature. However, years later when he was going to be crucified he even asked to be hung upside-down. Peter became the disciple that Jesus knew he could be. To identify with Jesus mentally puts me at the foot of the cross. It displays no strength of character, spirit control, allegiance or gratitude when I complain. Only as I mentally stay at the foot of the cross and look at Jesus will my ALS seem like nothing in comparison. I am hearing Jesus say, "What is that to you? You follow me!"

John 21:20-23 (NIV)

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?”

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 rumor 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?”

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Featuring Loyiso Bala, Neville D and Ivan Siegelaar