Title: Nosy Christian: Mind Your Own Business Meta: How much are we carnally curious about other people's issues when we haven't even fully dealt with our own, and we aren't fully obeying Christ as to what He's shown us to do. Jesus declines to satisfy Peter's curiosity; it is no business of his of what is going to happen to John. - Mack Tomlinson Tags: nosy,business,Peter,John,John 21,Jesus,restores 1 00:00:00,710 --> 00:00:06,420 The Lord tells Peter, “Keep your eyes only on me.” 2 00:00:06,420 --> 00:00:08,179 Now where do you find that? 3 00:00:08,179 --> 00:00:14,610 Well, notice what the Lord had said to Peter at the end of verse 19. 4 00:00:14,610 --> 00:00:17,970 “Follow me.” 5 00:00:17,970 --> 00:00:19,699 But what did Peter do? 6 00:00:19,699 --> 00:00:24,130 The next sentence says he turned and saw John. 7 00:00:24,130 --> 00:00:26,769 The Lord had said, “Follow me.” 8 00:00:26,769 --> 00:00:30,519 Peter turns and sees John. 9 00:00:30,519 --> 00:00:35,050 Peter is distracted about God’s will for John. 10 00:00:35,050 --> 00:00:39,600 Think about it, here’s this big context of the Lord restoring Peter in love, 11 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,019 calls him again to shepherd the sheep. 12 00:00:42,019 --> 00:00:46,039 Tells him how he’s going to die. 13 00:00:46,039 --> 00:00:49,199 And then the Lord says, “Follow me.” 14 00:00:49,199 --> 00:00:53,409 Wouldn’t that be enough for now? 15 00:00:53,409 --> 00:00:55,109 Well apparently not. 16 00:00:55,109 --> 00:00:58,169 Because Peter turns, and looks at John and says: 17 00:00:58,169 --> 00:01:00,399 “Well, what about him?” 18 00:01:00,399 --> 00:01:02,149 Why did Peter do that? 19 00:01:02,149 --> 00:01:05,360 It may have been, if he realizes he’s gonna die, 20 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:06,829 he was close to John, 21 00:01:06,829 --> 00:01:08,829 he wonders is this his fate to? 22 00:01:08,829 --> 00:01:11,810 “What are you gonna do with John? 23 00:01:11,810 --> 00:01:16,030 What about John’s future?” 24 00:01:16,030 --> 00:01:17,990 And Jesus in essence said, 25 00:01:17,990 --> 00:01:21,189 “What about John? 26 00:01:21,189 --> 00:01:24,770 Was I talking about John? 27 00:01:24,770 --> 00:01:29,290 Is my business about John’s future your business?" 28 00:01:29,290 --> 00:01:30,399 Or as we would say, 29 00:01:30,399 --> 00:01:34,840 “This is on a need to know basis and guess what?" 30 00:01:36,310 --> 00:01:39,389 "What is that to you? 31 00:01:39,389 --> 00:01:40,939 Follow me.” 32 00:01:40,939 --> 00:01:47,689 You see, we’re called not to be distracted by others. 33 00:01:47,689 --> 00:01:48,909 Christ called us... 34 00:01:48,909 --> 00:01:52,329 Especially by those we love and are closest to. 35 00:01:52,329 --> 00:01:55,969 We’re not to be distracted by others and their calling, 36 00:01:55,969 --> 00:01:57,579 God’s will for them, 37 00:01:57,579 --> 00:01:59,039 their situations, 38 00:01:59,039 --> 00:02:02,100 and Peter was distracted 39 00:02:02,100 --> 00:02:03,399 with a viewpoint, 40 00:02:03,399 --> 00:02:04,280 an attitude, 41 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:04,879 nosiness, 42 00:02:04,879 --> 00:02:05,500 meddling, 43 00:02:05,500 --> 00:02:09,220 and wondering about what was not his business. 44 00:02:09,220 --> 00:02:14,930 How easy is it for people to become 45 00:02:14,930 --> 00:02:21,220 a distracting hindrance to our single-eyed devotion. 46 00:02:21,220 --> 00:02:26,050 Our minds can so easily be on others' paths, 47 00:02:26,050 --> 00:02:28,120 more than our own path. 48 00:02:29,470 --> 00:02:33,330 If John’s future was Peter’s responsibility 49 00:02:33,330 --> 00:02:35,910 Jesus would have mentioned it to Peter. 50 00:02:35,910 --> 00:02:36,970 He did not say, 51 00:02:36,970 --> 00:02:39,000 “Peter here’s your new commission: 52 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,310 Love Me, feed My sheep, 53 00:02:40,310 --> 00:02:41,190 die for Me, 54 00:02:41,190 --> 00:02:43,470 and oh, here’s information about John 55 00:02:43,470 --> 00:02:45,300 because you’re responsible for him also.” 56 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:47,400 He didn't say that. 57 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,670 Jesus restores the fallen Peter, 58 00:02:50,670 --> 00:02:53,790 reaffirms his calling, 59 00:02:53,790 --> 00:02:57,490 and has to rebuke the nosy Peter. 60 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,280 Peter should leave all distractions alone, 61 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:03,330 because they weren’t his. 62 00:03:03,330 --> 00:03:05,200 “What is that to you? 63 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:06,980 What business is that of yours?” 64 00:03:06,980 --> 00:03:08,870 And how often do we need to hear this! 65 00:03:10,220 --> 00:03:14,160 We say, “Well I don’t think that church over there is quite doing right." 66 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,720 What’s that to you? 67 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:17,990 You follow Christ. 68 00:03:17,990 --> 00:03:19,620 “Well I don’t think they have the right view of 69 00:03:19,620 --> 00:03:21,790 which translation of the Bible to use." 70 00:03:21,790 --> 00:03:24,900 What's that? That's none of your business. 71 00:03:24,900 --> 00:03:26,060 You follow Christ. 72 00:03:26,060 --> 00:03:32,690 “Well I think they’re too young to be going to the mission field.” 73 00:03:32,690 --> 00:03:40,210 How much are we carnally curious about other people’s issues 74 00:03:40,210 --> 00:03:44,070 when we haven’t even fully dealt with our own, 75 00:03:44,070 --> 00:03:47,300 and we aren’t fully obeying Christ 76 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:50,510 as to what He’s shown us to do. 77 00:03:50,510 --> 00:03:54,570 Jesus declines to satisfy Peters curiosity, 78 00:03:54,570 --> 00:03:56,980 it is no business of Peter’s 79 00:03:56,980 --> 00:03:59,570 what is going to happen to John. 80 00:03:59,570 --> 00:04:01,870 Even if the Lord wills for John to stay alive, 81 00:04:01,870 --> 00:04:03,030 even to His return, 82 00:04:03,030 --> 00:04:06,370 why would Peter even need to know that? 83 00:04:06,370 --> 00:04:09,470 He doesn’t need to know anything about John. 84 00:04:09,470 --> 00:04:13,200 How much do we need to know about God’s purpose and will for others 85 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,100 even those we're closest to? 86 00:04:16,100 --> 00:04:18,048 How much do we really need to know? 87 00:04:18,048 --> 00:04:20,858 Elders and pastors need to know. 88 00:04:20,858 --> 00:04:22,860 Church leaders need to know more, 89 00:04:22,860 --> 00:04:26,229 often times for the protection. 90 00:04:26,229 --> 00:04:29,370 But generally speaking how much do we need to know 91 00:04:29,370 --> 00:04:33,319 about God’s business in other people’s lives? 92 00:04:33,319 --> 00:04:34,500 What is that to you? 93 00:04:34,500 --> 00:04:38,620 Oh, thou nosy Christian! 94 00:04:38,620 --> 00:04:40,849 Mind your own business, 95 00:04:40,849 --> 00:04:43,020 keep to your own stuff! 96 00:04:43,020 --> 00:04:49,639 You know, one of the greatest examples of this mistake is King Josiah. 97 00:04:49,639 --> 00:04:52,240 He reigned 31 years in Jerusalem. 98 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,270 He became King when he was 8 years old. 99 00:04:54,270 --> 00:04:56,009 At 16, the Bible says he began 100 00:04:56,009 --> 00:04:57,360 to seek the Lord seriously. 101 00:04:57,360 --> 00:04:59,389 He began to seek the God of David. 102 00:04:59,389 --> 00:05:04,389 And he began purging Jerusalem of idols and carved images. 103 00:05:04,389 --> 00:05:06,099 One of the best kings in Israel's history. 104 00:05:06,099 --> 00:05:09,430 In 2 Kings, in 2 Chronicles, 105 00:05:09,430 --> 00:05:11,189 it gives his record. 106 00:05:11,189 --> 00:05:13,370 He kept the Passover in Jerusalem, 107 00:05:13,370 --> 00:05:15,749 he appointed priests to their offices 108 00:05:15,749 --> 00:05:18,599 and encourage them in the service of the house of God. 109 00:05:18,599 --> 00:05:21,990 He put the Ark in the Temple that Solomon built. 110 00:05:21,990 --> 00:05:23,810 He cut down the alters of Baal, 111 00:05:23,810 --> 00:05:25,729 and he was present himself 112 00:05:25,729 --> 00:05:29,680 when those men cut those alters to Baal down, 113 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:30,789 the Bible says. 114 00:05:30,789 --> 00:05:33,669 He told the priests, "Consecrate yourselves 115 00:05:33,669 --> 00:05:35,580 and prepare for your brothers 116 00:05:35,580 --> 00:05:38,060 to do according to the word of the Lord by Moses." 117 00:05:38,060 --> 00:05:43,669 The singers, the sons of Asaph, were under Josiah's leadership in Israel. 118 00:05:43,669 --> 00:05:44,389 And the Bible says, 119 00:05:44,389 --> 00:05:48,120 "There was no Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the 120 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,370 days of Samuel the Prophet." 121 00:05:50,370 --> 00:05:54,710 2 Chronicles 35 summarizes Josiah's life. 122 00:05:54,710 --> 00:05:56,520 The rest of the acts of Josiah and his 123 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:00,110 good deeds are written in the book of the kings. 124 00:06:00,110 --> 00:06:01,819 But you know what? 125 00:06:01,819 --> 00:06:04,770 Do you remember his major misstep? 126 00:06:04,770 --> 00:06:07,860 One big misstep cost him his life. 127 00:06:07,860 --> 00:06:10,409 He didn't apostatize and worship the Baals. 128 00:06:10,409 --> 00:06:12,529 He didn't love, like Solomon, 129 00:06:12,529 --> 00:06:13,879 a bunch of strange women 130 00:06:13,879 --> 00:06:17,830 and let them pull his heart away to false gods; 131 00:06:17,830 --> 00:06:19,789 like Solomon did. 132 00:06:19,789 --> 00:06:22,039 What did Josiah do? 133 00:06:22,039 --> 00:06:25,289 He didn't mind his own business. 134 00:06:25,289 --> 00:06:29,310 He began meddling in affairs that weren't his. 135 00:06:29,310 --> 00:06:31,499 He began to pick a fight with a dog, 136 00:06:31,499 --> 00:06:34,939 but the dog didn't want to fight him. 137 00:06:34,939 --> 00:06:37,979 But he picked the fight and the dog had to fight him. 138 00:06:37,979 --> 00:06:40,810 2 Chronicles says after Josiah prepared the Temple, 139 00:06:40,810 --> 00:06:42,009 he heard about Neco 140 00:06:42,009 --> 00:06:43,180 the king of Egypt, 141 00:06:43,180 --> 00:06:49,060 who was going to war with someone over near the Euphrates river 142 00:06:49,060 --> 00:06:50,779 And it's not Josiah's business, 143 00:06:50,779 --> 00:06:53,800 it's not his battle. 144 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,919 He doesn't have a bone to pick. 145 00:06:55,919 --> 00:06:58,419 Israel's welfare is not at stake! 146 00:06:58,419 --> 00:07:02,249 But he couldn't leave it alone. 147 00:07:02,249 --> 00:07:05,479 Josiah goes out to meet Neco, 148 00:07:05,479 --> 00:07:08,180 basically to pick a fight 149 00:07:08,180 --> 00:07:10,309 when Neco wasn't coming to Israel. 150 00:07:10,309 --> 00:07:13,610 And the Bible says Neco sent messengers to Josiah. 151 00:07:13,610 --> 00:07:18,180 They said this, "What do we have to do with you O King? 152 00:07:18,219 --> 00:07:19,699 What do we have to do with each other? 153 00:07:19,699 --> 00:07:22,520 I'm not coming against you this day, but some one else. 154 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,259 Listen, I'm in a hurry. 155 00:07:24,259 --> 00:07:27,259 Stop! Because God is with me. 156 00:07:27,259 --> 00:07:30,389 Lest He destroy you!" 157 00:07:32,229 --> 00:07:34,419 And here was Josiah's mistake. 158 00:07:34,419 --> 00:07:35,279 The Bible says, 159 00:07:35,279 --> 00:07:38,129 "Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him 160 00:07:38,129 --> 00:07:44,310 he did not listen to the words of Neco, from the mouth of God, 161 00:07:44,310 --> 00:07:46,650 but instead he came to fight. 162 00:07:46,650 --> 00:07:50,160 And the archers shot Josiah and he died and was buried. 163 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:51,120 And the Bible says, 164 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,509 "All Jerusalem and all Judah mourned for Josiah, 165 00:07:54,509 --> 00:08:00,370 and Jeremiah the Prophet lamented his death. 166 00:08:00,370 --> 00:08:01,960 Neco was saying, 167 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,979 "What is that to you? 168 00:08:04,979 --> 00:08:06,969 You worship Jehovah. 169 00:08:06,969 --> 00:08:09,659 What is that to you? This isn't your fight. 170 00:08:09,659 --> 00:08:11,549 You're not called to meddle here." 171 00:08:11,549 --> 00:08:14,339 Watch meddling! 172 00:08:14,339 --> 00:08:17,159 A dear favorite preacher of mine said one time: 173 00:08:17,159 --> 00:08:19,150 "Watch out for meddling, 174 00:08:19,150 --> 00:08:21,139 don't meddle in what's not your business! 175 00:08:21,139 --> 00:08:25,449 Don't be concerned about stuff that's not for you to fix." 176 00:08:25,449 --> 00:08:26,849 You follow Christ! 177 00:08:26,849 --> 00:08:29,430 You stay focused on Him and don't let 178 00:08:29,430 --> 00:08:32,339 people, even those you love the most, 179 00:08:32,339 --> 00:08:34,200 distract you from steadfast 180 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:35,780 single-eyed obedience! 181 00:08:35,780 --> 00:08:39,179 "What is that to you, Peter? 182 00:08:39,179 --> 00:08:42,000 You follow Me." 183 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:45,060 And that's the final thing the Lord said to him. 184 00:08:45,060 --> 00:08:50,330 Not only "Love Me, feed My sheep, die for Me, 185 00:08:50,330 --> 00:08:51,810 mind your own business - 186 00:08:51,810 --> 00:08:53,680 but "follow Me." 187 00:08:53,680 --> 00:08:55,730 And the Lord says it twice here. 188 00:08:55,730 --> 00:08:57,140 "Follow Me!" 189 00:08:57,140 --> 00:08:58,810 And then at the end, He says: 190 00:08:58,810 --> 00:09:01,120 "You, follow Me. 191 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,560 Just follow Me." 192 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:06,630 "Love Me, care for my sheep, 193 00:09:06,630 --> 00:09:07,710 follow Me, 194 00:09:07,710 --> 00:09:08,500 feed them, 195 00:09:08,500 --> 00:09:08,960 love them, 196 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:10,070 watch out for them. 197 00:09:10,070 --> 00:09:12,870 Don't let anyone mess with my Bride! 198 00:09:12,870 --> 00:09:17,340 Shepherd my sheep!