Jealousy was a problem. Especially between Peter and John. We’ve seen this several times.
1) It was John who had leaned back against Jesus as his close friend and asked him to tell who was going to betray him (John 21:20)
2) It was almost certainly John that was the one who “outran” Peter and reached the empty tomb of Jesus “first.”
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first (John 20:3-4)
3) And now while Peter was having this confrontation and restoration with Jesus, Peter asked about John, focusing on him.
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21;20-22).
Peter was jealous. He wanted to know the inside scoop on what was going to happen with John. Perhaps Peter was embarrassed that he had fallen away after such a strong denial of Jesus, and didn’t like that he was the bad guy and John the good guy. Or perhaps he wanted to leverage himself in Jesus’ eyes. We don’t know. But the jealousy is pretty loud and strong.
Jesus’ response?
“what is that to you? You follow me!”
Basically, stop being jealous. But your blinders on so that you only see me. Not come, follow me.
Jealousy is real. We see that envy and jealosy were what provoked the religious leaders against Jesus. And it was jealousy that turned the people against the early apostles.
And jealousy hasn’t stopped being a problem. How many church pastors compare notes with other pastors about the numbers in their church or the size of their buildings? How many people compared budgets and envy? Or the number of likes, follows, shares and overall influence?
It’s hard not to envy others lives. But it is also one of the Ten Commandments: Do not Covet.
We would do well to do as Jesus says. Don’t look to others. Just look to Him. And follow.