Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 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 21:18-22 NKJV

Jesus’ gentle reminder to Peter is a reminder for us as well. How often do we as humans, get distracted by what is going on with other humans, when we are supposed to be following Jesus?

In John 5:1-15, a man is distracted by the pool and those getting in before him, wondering why no one would help him. Finally he takes his eyes off the pool and those around him,  casts his eyes on Jesus and finds healing.

In Matthew 11:1-11 John the Baptist begins to doubt when his faith could not see beyond the prison walls. John may have wondered, “Am I going to be left here to die? Why doesn’t God send a chariot of fire to come pick me up like He did for Elijah? Surely I deserve to be lifted up above the crowd in the same fashion as Elijah? Why wouldn’t God do for me the same as He did for Elijah? ” Granted, I don’t know if John the Baptist ever thought that or not, but it sure seems he could have. If so, he would have just been human like the rest of us, including Peter, who was wanting to compare his fate to the fate of the other disciple.  Thus Jesus’ simple yet profound reminder to Peter and the rest of us, “What is that to you? You follow me.” 

When I was young, you never even heard the term “turnover rate” used for pastors. If someone was a pastor you knew they would be a pastor for life. Now there is such a thing as a turnover rate  for pastors. With respect for the office diminishing (Some of which is deserved but that is another lesson for another time), increased conflict arises between congregations and pastors.  Overwhelming stress, lack of support and feelings of isolation, like John the Baptist probably felt, have many pastors leaving for greener pastures.  While I have no doubt God may lead some pastors into another realm of service,  in most case, could it be that the pastor is looking at greener pastures instead of looking to Jesus? Could it be that the pastor is looking at the conflicts in the church instead of looking to Jesus? Could it be that the pastor is comparing the respect given to pastors years ago with the respect he is given today? Could it be that the pastor simply needs to do what the man  in John 5 did and take his eyes off the pool and everyone around him and place them on Jesus? 

Jesus, who was spit upon, beaten and crucified, does not tell us to compare ourselves to other pastors. He tells us to follow Him. Where did Jesus go? He went to the cross. Again I do not know what John the Baptist was thinking while confined by those prison walls, but I sure hope he was not comparing his ministry to Elijah and that chariot of fire that came and took him away. I hope he was looking to Jesus, as John did in a real sense follow Christ to the cross. 

Photograph by William Earnhardt

I know I am not telling you anything new, but today you may just need to be reminded that, when you were baptized, you did not give your heart to man, you gave it to Jesus. If people are letting you down in your ministry, rest assured people were never meant to be your solution. Has the church let you down? No worries, the church never promised to be there for you. Psalm 46:1 tells us God is our ever present help in times of trouble.  Don’t feel betrayed if the conference did not come through for you on a benefit you thought you were entitled to. The conference did not call you into ministry, God did, and the only benefit He promised you was a cross. You work for God and not for man. See Ephesians 6:7.

When you were baptized, Jesus did not promise you a chariot of fire. He did not promise you special honor and privileges, He did not promise everyone would love you. On the contrary He told you all would hate you for His sake. See Matthew 24:9. When Jesus asked you to follow Him, the only thing He promised you was a cross. 

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.Luke 9:23 NKJV

You may be reading this thinking, “But I am not a pastor” but you are! The New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers, and you have been called to pastor in some realm, which could be an actual church, or classroom, workplace, neighborhood or your own home.  Wherever God is calling you to serve, please take your eyes off the “pool,” take your eyes off that other disciple who you think may have been given a better deal. Take your eyes off the people who are not cooperating and supporting you as you think you deserve. Place your eyes on Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, and,  as He beckons you with His nailed-scarred hands, He asks you to ignore all the noise from the crowd around you, as He pleads, “Follow me.” 

Will you? 

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