“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?”
My Notes
What Does John 21:20 Mean?
"Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?" Immediately after receiving his OWN death-prophecy (verse 18-19), Peter turns and asks about JOHN: what about HIM? The response to learning your own fate is to ask about someone else's. The curiosity about another's destiny arrives the moment your own is sealed. Peter's question (verse 21 — 'what shall this man do?') reveals the human instinct to COMPARE callings.
The phrase "Peter, turning about" (epistrepheis ho Petros — Peter, having turned around) describes a PHYSICAL TURN that represents a MENTAL SHIFT: Peter just received the heaviest personal prophecy of his life (his martyrdom). And he TURNS AROUND — away from the future Jesus just described, toward JOHN. The turning is the DISTRACTION. The focus shifts from 'what does MY calling cost?' to 'what does HIS calling cost?' The turning is the comparing.
The identification of John — "the disciple whom Jesus loved, which also leaned on his breast at supper" — is the MOST INTIMATE description: the disciple defined by Jesus' LOVE for him and by his PROXIMITY at the last supper (leaning on Jesus' breast). The disciple Peter asks about is the one CLOSEST to Jesus. The comparison isn't random. Peter asks about the one who seems to have the most FAVORED position.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What 'John' are you comparing your calling to — and is it distracting you from 'follow me'?
- 2.What does 'turning about' (away from your calling, toward comparison) describe about the instinct to compare?
- 3.How does 'what is that to THEE?' eliminate every comparison-based question?
- 4.What would looking FORWARD at your own calling (instead of sideways at someone else's) change?
Devotional
Peter just heard his death-prophecy. And his FIRST response is to turn around and ask about JOHN: what about HIM? The moment Peter's own destiny is sealed, he wants to know about someone else's. The comparison-instinct is immediate. The own-calling hasn't been absorbed before the other-calling is questioned.
The 'turning about' is the PHYSICAL picture of the SPIRITUAL distraction: Peter should be facing FORWARD — processing the prophecy about his own future, receiving the 'follow me' (verse 19) that Jesus just spoke. Instead, he TURNS AROUND. The turning is away from his own calling and toward someone else's. The comparison replaces the reception. The question about John replaces the response to Jesus.
The 'disciple whom Jesus loved' is the one Peter asks about — the MOST FAVORED disciple: the comparison isn't with a random follower. It's with the disciple who seems CLOSEST to Jesus — the one who leaned on Jesus' breast, the one who is LOVED. Peter's question (verse 21) is really: does HE have to die too? Does the favored one get a different deal? Is his calling as costly as mine?
Jesus' response (verse 22 — 'if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to THEE? Follow thou ME') is the DEFINITIVE answer to every comparison: what I do with JOHN is not your concern. YOUR job is to follow ME. The calling is INDIVIDUAL. The comparison is IRRELEVANT. The 'what is that to thee' eliminates every comparison-question by redirecting to the personal calling. Stop asking about his destiny. Follow yours.
What 'John' are you turning to compare with — and is the comparison distracting you from your own 'follow me'?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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