When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter's question, "Lord, what about this man?" isn't just idle curiosity; it's a deeply human reaction to receiving his own stark, challenging destiny. He's just been told he'll face a difficult death for Christ, and seeing John also rise to follow Jesus, Peter immediately wonders about his friend's path. This highlights Peter's impulsive nature and his tendency to focus on others' roles once his own is addressed, a pattern Jesus gently redirects.
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus has just told Peter he will be martyred, Peter sees John following them and, out of concern and curiosity, asks Jesus what John's fate will be. Jesus rebukes Peter for focusing on John's path instead of his own calling to follow Him.
Peter just heard his own future, a future of suffering. What prompts him to immediately ask about John?
When Jesus commissions Peter to 'follow me,' Peter immediately looks and sees John, the disciple Jesus loved, following. Peter's question, 'Lord, what about this man?' (literally, 'And this one, what?') isn't just idle curiosity.
Possible Motives:
Whatever the exact mix of motives, Peter’s focus shifts from his own commission to someone else’s. Jesus redirects him firmly back to his own calling.
Jesus' answer to Peter's question is famously direct. What does this reveal about our own discipleship?
Jesus’ response, 'If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!' is a powerful redirection.
The Core Message:
Ask a follow-up
This isn't about diminishing John, but about elevating Peter’s personal responsibility to follow Christ.
Understand the original words
Kyrios · Greek Noun
A title of respect, authority, and deity, denoting the one who possesses sovereign control over creation, history, and individual lives.
akolouthei · Greek Verb
The central act of a Christian's life, involving active obedience, imitation of Christ, and a continuous personal commitment to walk in His ways.
erchomai · Greek Verb
Refers to the second coming of Christ, the eschatological event when Jesus returns to judge the world and fully establish His kingdom.
Peter's question about John reflects the disciples' struggle to understand their individual roles and futures after Jesus' ascension, highlighting their human curiosity even as they embraced their divine commission.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus begins teaching, healing, and gathering disciples, including Peter and John. These years of close fellowship build a deep bond between Jesus and his followers.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified, buried, and then resurrected, appearing to his disciples multiple times over 40 days. This period marks a profound shift in their understanding and their grief.
c. AD 30— this verse
Post-Resurrection Appearance at the Sea of Galilee
Jesus appears to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee. He reinstates Peter, commissioning him to 'feed my sheep,' and then contrasts Peter's future with that of John.
c. AD 30-33
Early Church Growth
The disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit after Jesus' ascension, begin spreading the gospel. Peter and John are central figures in the leadership and growth of the early Christian community.
c. AD 62-64
Peter's Imprisonment and Death
Tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome, likely during Nero's reign, possibly by crucifixion upside down as foretold by Jesus.
c. AD 90-100
John's Exile and Gospel Writing
The Apostle John is exiled to the island of Patmos, where he likely writes the Book of Revelation. He later writes his Gospel, possibly from Ephesus, reflecting on Jesus' life and teachings.
This passage shows Peter's overconfidence and his assertion that he would go with Jesus to prison and to death, mirroring his impulsive nature seen in John 21:21.
Matthew 20:20-23Jesus addresses a similar kind of inquiry about another's destiny here, when the mother of James and John asks for her sons to sit at his right and left hand, highlighting the theme of differing roles and God's sovereign choices.
1 Corinthians 3:8Paul speaks about God giving the increase to both the planter and the waterer, illustrating that different individuals have different roles in God's work, which relates to Peter's curiosity about John's specific role.
John 13:23This verse describes the intimate relationship between Jesus and the disciple whom He loved (John), showing the deep bond Peter observed, which likely fueled his question about John's future.
barnesJohn 21:21: "Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?"
What shall this man do? - This question probably means, "What death shall he die?" But it is impossible to ascertain certainly why Peter asked this question. John was a favorite disciple, and perhaps Peter suspected that he would have a happier lot, and not be put to death in this manner. Peter was grieved at the question of Jesus; he was probably deeply affected with the account of his own approaching sufferings;…
pulpitJohn 21:21: "Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?"
Verses 21, 22. - Peter then, seeing this man, saith to Jesus, Lord, and this man, what? What is the duty, place, fate, or honor of this man? Paulus and Tholuck suggest in the words the inquiry, "May not this man come now and hear our intercourse, share in my travail and the like?" Meyer supposes it to be dictated by a certain jealousy or curiosity, a consciousness of contrast between his own impetuosity and the bel…
Peter's question, "Lord, what about this man?" isn't just idle curiosity; it's a deeply human reaction to receiving his own stark, challenging destiny. He's just been told he'll face a difficult death for Christ, and seeing John also rise to follow Jesus, Peter immediately wonders about his friend's path. This highlights Peter's impulsive nature and his tendency to focus on others' roles once his own is addressed, a pattern Jesus gently redirects.
After Jesus has just told Peter he will be martyred, Peter sees John following them and, out of concern and curiosity, asks Jesus what John's fate will be. Jesus rebukes Peter for focusing on John's path instead of his own calling to follow Him.
After Jesus has just told Peter he will be martyred, Peter sees John following them and, out of concern and curiosity, asks Jesus what John's fate will be. Jesus rebukes Peter for focusing on John's path instead of his own calling to follow Him.
"When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”" — Peter's question, "Lord, what about this man?" isn't just idle curiosity; it's a deeply human reaction to receiving his own stark, challenging destiny. He's just been told he'll face a difficult deat…
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Last reviewed October 2026