Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him,
“If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”
John 21:21-22
Jesus is the lover of our souls, a friend closer than a brother, our Savior, but also our Lord. The relationship between Jesus and Peter is being restored, but Jesus is still Lord, and Peter isn’t. Lordship is a position of authority. Jesus has told Peter how he will die, and Peter asks about John. Jesus’ simple response is “what is that to you?” That may sound rude or unloving, but Jesus is gently, yet accurately, reminding Peter of that He is Lord.
In a Christian culture of grace and identity, we must not lose sight of the cornerstone of our faith: the Lordship of Jesus. History does not happen to Jesus. He is in history while above it and beyond it. Jesus knew how Peter was going to die and implies that if He wants John to live until He comes, He will. Without a clear realization of the Lordship of Christ, we do not have an anchor for our faith. Without this anchor, some might put faith in their faith or in biblical principles instead of faith in the person and work of Jesus.
Faith (trust) is only as strong as the one in whom it is placed. Sitting in a chair is an act of trust. The next time you sit in a chair, if it breaks, does mean you lacked faith? Of course not! Trust was given to the chair that was no longer worthy of the trust that was given. If we lose sight of the grandeur of the lordship of Jesus Christ, our faith will be redirected by fear. The greatness and goodness of His Lordship is our peace, regardless of what others might do.
To trust that Jesus is good but that not He is Lord never produces hope, joy, or peace. To trust that He is Lord but not that He is good cannot produce hope, joy, and peace either. It is only in trusting in His goodness and His lordship that we can experience hope, joy, and peace. Whether happy or sorrowful, in times of pain or comfort, in life or death, good will come to us because Jesus is Lord.