“Age Old Curiosity”

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

      My question concerns the very end of the Book of John when Jesus appeared before the disciples after rising from the dead.  The disciples were fishing, and Jesus was on the shore.  He told them to cast the net on the side of the boat, and they caught the fish.  “Come to shore and eat,” He said, and Jesus told Peter to come with Him, and told Peter how he would die.  Jesus told Peter than John will remain behind.  Jesus said, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."  My question: is John still alive today?  Jesus literally said that John would remain until He comes again.  Then it says in the Word that this disciple would not die.  It didn't say that this disciple will not die by crucifixion or some other cause.  It didn't say that this disciple would die of old age.  The Word literally says, “This disciple would not die.”  Is it possible that John is still alive and waiting for Christ to come again?  Can you give me your take on this Scripture?  Thanks.

Sincerely,
Older Than Methuselah?

Dear Older Than Methuselah,

To understand what Jesus meant in Jhn 21:22, we need the next verse.  Jesus simply told Peter, “If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”  There was confusion over this in the brotherhood because the word went out that John would live until the return of Christ, but Jesus was simply making the point to Peter that he didn’t need to worry about what would happen to others but to worry about himself.  Jesus didn’t say he would live until the return; He simply said, “If”.

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