“What is that to you?”

Often when I read the Bible, I come across a familiar passage. It might be that I’ve heard a sermon on it, or that it’s recorded in another place in the Bible where I’ve read it previously. I was reading through the Gospel of John during Lent. When I came to John’s final chapter, I read some verses that startled me, because they took me back to my childhood, and I heard my parents talking to me. Let me set the stage.

Jesus had been crucified, and He was raised from the dead-on Sunday morning. That evening, when the disciples were gathered behind locked doors because of their fear, Jesus appeared in the room. At this meeting, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Thomas was not present at that first meeting with Jesus. We know well the reaction of Thomas, how he said he would not believe until he placed his fingers on the nail marks and on Jesus’ side. One week later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, who were again behind locked doors. This time, Thomas was there. Jesus invited him to place his fingers on the nail prints and on His side. Thomas believed, saying, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28, NIV).

The third appearance of Jesus was to seven of the disciples, after they had fished all night on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples had caught no fish, but Jesus called to them to lower their net on the right side of the boat. When they obeyed, the fishermen caught 153 large fish. They towed the full net behind the boat to the shore, where Jesus had a fire going and had already prepared them a breakfast of fish and bread…

After breakfast, Jesus had a conversation with Peter. Three times He asked Peter if he loved Him. Jesus explained to Peter that he would be stretched out and made to go to a place where he did not want to go. Jesus was talking about Peter’s death. Then Jesus said to him, “Follow me” (John 21:19). Peter looked up and saw John following along, and asked, “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21).

This is where I felt my parents speaking to me as a child. When chores were handed out, I said things like, “But what about my siblings? What do they have to do?” When Dad asked how much time I had practiced the piano, my thought was, “But what about my sister? Did she practice today?”

Jesus replied to Peter, “What is that to you? You must follow me” (John 21:22).  Wisely, my parents said similar words to me. “It doesn’t matter what others do; you must do what is right.” “What is it to you if your sister practiced? You’re supposed to practice every day.” Like Peter, my excuses were not sufficient to sway my parents from requiring me to do what was expected.

I may not have appreciated those words as a child, but I certainly do as an adult. I’m grateful my parents learned the words of Jesus: “What is that to you? You must follow me.” Though these words seem almost an after-thought to the story, John included them in his Gospel by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew we needed to hear them, as much as Peter did. They’re a reminder to do what Jesus calls us to do.