Jesus Took Responsibility for the Life and Death of His Disciples

What Did Jesus Do?

“If it is my will that he remain…what is that to you? Follow me!”
John 21.22

The Lord, having deconstructed Peter’s denial, restored him to apostleship, charged him with the care of His flock (John 21.15-19; see WDJD for 10/3/11), and warned him about the God glorifying manner of the death that awaited him. Peter’s immediate response, and we all know Peter was always quick to respond, was to express concern for one of Christ’s little lambs—“the disciple whom Jesus loved” (the author of the Fourth Gospel, John, the younger brother of James)—“Lord, what about his man?” (John 21.21) Though the text is not explicit as to Peter’s motive in inquiring about John’s fate, I would credit him with desiring that the youngest of the Twelve should not have to suffer the same awful death that Jesus had just told Peter he would one day face.

Whether or not Peter is deserving of such credit, it is clear that the Lord assumed full responsibility for the life and death of his disciples, “If it is my will that he (John) remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” Jesus let Peter know that, just as he called Peter, so too had he called John. In the same way, John’s life and death were the Lord’s responsibility. Peter’s sole focus was to be on one thing, and one thing alone: following Jesus.

This is not to say that disciples, whether we are talking about the First Century, or the Twenty-first, should ever ignore one another. Rather, as Christ’s calling of a disciple is a strictly personal matter, the working out of that calling, the manner of an individual disciple’s life, and death, ultimately lie in the hands of Jesus. Certainly, we must so remember our brothers and sisters in prayer that we continually ask that the Lord’s will be done in their lives; but we should never forget that our calling is our calling, and their calling is their calling. And, again, the responsibility for every disciple’s calling, our life and our death, is the Lord’s.

The work of discipling others, then, is not so much a matter of directing their course as it is helping others so to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus, and of the Scriptures, as to themselves discern and follow the course the Lord alone determines for them. This is the work of feeding and tending the sheep who follow, not us, but Jesus, the Good Shepherd. We may, indeed, we certainly should, share in our common life in Christ. Consider the following New Testament passages which instruct disciples to be involved in “one anothering,”: “love one another” (John 13.34), “instruct one another” (Romans 15.14), “care for one another” (1 Corinthians 12.25), “comfort one another” (2 Corinthians 13.11), “serve one another” (Galatians 5.13), “submit to one another” (Ephesians 5.21), “teach and admonish one another” (Colossians 3.16) “encourage one another” (1 Thessalonians 4.18), “exhort one another” (Hebrews 3.13), “stir one another up to good works” (Hebrews 10.24), “confess to and pray for one another” (James 5.16). Clearly, the Bible urges us to share a mutual concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Still, to follow Jesus means that each of us must carry our own cross, walk our own walk, and ultimately stand alone in accountability before the Lord. Yet, we may carry our cross, walk our walk, and persevere to the end of our race (2 Timothy 4.7), in full assurance and hope, knowing that Jesus Christ himself takes responsibility for the life and death, and resurrection to eternal life, of each and every one of his disciples.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4