Follow Me

Readings:
II Kings 22
John 21:20-25

Focus:
John 21:22:"Jesus said, 'If it should be my will that he stay until I come, what is it to you? Follow me.'"

In the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, the lion Aslan represents Jesus. Often one of the children who are the main characters will ask Aslan questions about another character in the story, such as what might happen to that character, or why something happened to the character. Aslan will usually say, in response, something along the lines of, "That is not your story." Then Aslan will tell the child what that particular child needs to know for his or her own story--for his or her own path in life.

This is what Jesus is saying here. Jesus says, in effect, that what he wants us to concentrate on is following him. We should not get hung up on speculating what might be in God's plans for others. Instead, we should just follow Jesus. "Follow me" is also what Jesus said to Peter earlier, recorded in verse 19, after asking him three times if Peter loved him. This is what Jesus really, really wants us to do. And when we follow him, the consequences are that things will work out better not only for us, but for all those around us as well.