Jesus And The Other Disciple
JESUS AND THE OTHER DISCIPLE
JOHN 21:20-25
Peter wanted to know what Jesus had in store for another Christian—a natural curiosity!
It is always interesting to know what is going to happen to other people too. Human nature being what it is, we enjoy comparisons with others so that we can exult in our own virtue or grumble about our own misfortunes. Sometimes we wish to find out about others from sheer curiosity. Whatever the motive, Peter wants to know what is to happen to the “beloved disciple.” Jesus answered that that is none of Peter’s business, but puts it in such a way that he seems to predict that that disciple would not die before the second coming of Christ. The writer wishes to make it quite plain that Jesus did not say that but only “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
The book ends with the assertion that it is this disciple who is bearing witness to all this and has written this, and that it is known that his evidence is true. And in a charming concluding sentence the writer adds that if all the deeds of Jesus were recorded the world would not be large enough to hold all the books which should be written.
Notes 21:20: it is not clear why such a long description is given of the “beloved disciple.” It may be to contrast this incident with the other (13:21-30), when it seemed of considerable importance to both Peter and the “beloved disciple” to know who was going to be the traitor. 21:22: perhaps this was deliberately expressed as the most different thing that could possibly happen to him, without any necessary implication that it would. 21:23: it is possibly necessary to state this because the “beloved disciple” has recently died. If this is so, he is the witness behind the Gospel and the one responsible for its writing. Chapter 21 (or at least the last two verses) would then be edited by the disciples of the “beloved disciple” (“we” in 21:24).
A final thought While chapter 21 may be something of a postscript to the Gospel, it is a most appropriate one. The transformation of an individual by Christ, through a personal encounter involving faith in him, is what the whole Gospel is about.