📜 What Is That To You?

🎥 Film Presentation

Film: SkitGuys, “Leave : Follow.” (highlighting only to call attention to the fact we need it shown)

START WITH THE TITLE ON SCREEN HERE

🏛️ Introduction

The video we just watched asked us a piercing question: “Are you willing to leave…?”

Your hobbies?

Your ambitions?

Your financial security?

Your political agenda?

Your “me” time?

Your down time?

Everything you’ve planned?

Everything you’ve known?

That question hits differently depending on where you are in life. For some of us, it’s our career. For others, it’s our reputation. For many in this community, it’s the retirement you’ve worked so hard to build and the plans you’ve carefully laid out.

And Peter knew exactly what that question felt like. When Jesus first called him, Peter was asked to leave his nets—his primary means of supporting his family—and follow a carpenter-turned-rabbi on a radical, uncertain road. He walked away from stability to embrace surrender.

But here’s the truth: the struggle isn’t only what we’re willing to leave. It’s also what we’re tempted to compare. We compare everything:

Houses — “Why is their kitchen remodeled?” “Why is my mortgage higher than theirs?”

Cars — “Why do they always drive something new?” “Why does mine have more miles but fewer features?”

Jobs — “Why did they get promoted?” “Why do I work harder but earn less?”

Friends — “Why do they have such a wide circle?” “Why is my circle so close-knit but so small?”

Churches — “Why does that church seem so lively?” “Why does ours feel faithful but less noticed?”

Ministry teams — “Why does their team always seem full of energy?” “Why does mine seem stretched thin?”

Ministry team leadership — “Why do they get to lead?” “Why am I always supporting instead of steering?”

Peter asked a similar kind of question. After being restored by Jesus, he turned and looked at John and said, “Lord, what about him?”

And Jesus’ response was sharp and simple: “What is that to you? Follow Me.”

That phrase—“Follow Me”—is the heartbeat of discipleship. It’s not about speculation. It’s about surrender. It’s not about comparison. It’s about commitment. And let’s not forget: comparison was the original sin. Satan looked at God and said, “I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). That comparison led to rebellion, and rebellion led to ruin.

📖 Scripture Reading

John 21:17–23 (NLT) He asked him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. “Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.” So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” “If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So this rumor spread to the brothers and sisters that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

✋ Note: John is the only disciple whose death is not recorded in Scripture. That uncertainty may have fueled speculation, but Jesus’ point was not about John’s future—it was about Peter’s obedience.

🎯 Point 1: The Call of Christ is Personal

🏛️ Explanation

Jesus didn’t say, “Follow your friends,” or “Follow the crowd.” He said, “Follow Me.” Christianity is personal. Yet Paul does write, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). That means there is a place for healthy imitation—we can “draft” behind others—but only if they are chasing Jesus.

But here’s the key: We must have a personal, one-on-one relationship with Jesus strong enough to discern whether the person we are following is truly following Christ. You can’t know that by distance, assumption, or reputation. You only know it when you are close enough to Jesus yourself that His Spirit confirms it.

🛠️ Application

Your faith cannot be borrowed from your spouse, inherited from your parents, or outsourced to your pastor. It is personal. When Christ calls you, He is calling you.

🎨 Illustration

Think of GPS. You can drive with someone else’s directions, but the voice on your phone is guiding you. You can’t just say, “Well, they took a left,” if the voice says, “Turn right.”

🤔 Accountability Question

If Jesus were to stand before you today and say, “I told you to follow Me, not them,” how would you answer Him about the path you’re walking?

Transition: Once we grasp that following Christ is personal, we must also realize that it is purposeful—even when it doesn’t go the way we would choose.

🎯 Point 2: The Path of Christ is Painful

🏛️ Explanation

Jesus told Peter plainly: “You will be carried where you do not want to go.” History tells us Peter was crucified upside down in Rome. Jesus didn’t hide the cost—He revealed it. Following Him sometimes leads through valleys of suffering, places we never would have picked.

🛠️ Application

Obedience doesn’t always mean comfort. It often means sacrifice. God may call you to forgive when you’d rather stay bitter, to serve when you’d rather sit, to stand when you’d rather stay silent.

🎨 Illustration

Think of surgery. No one wants to go under the knife, but sometimes the place we “don’t want to go” is exactly the place of healing.

🤔 Accountability Question

If obedience led you into suffering tomorrow, would you still follow? What would you say to Jesus if He asked you, “Will you still glorify Me there?”

Transition: But obedience is not just painful; it is also prone to distraction. That’s why Jesus redirects Peter’s focus.

🎯 Point 3: The Priority of Christ is Primary Focus

🏛️ Explanation

Jesus is always to be first with our eyes firmly fixed on Him. When Peter asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus’ response was blunt: “What is that to you? You follow Me.” Comparison is the enemy of calling. The issue is not where someone else’s road leads—it’s whether you’re walking the road God laid before you.

🛠️ Application

Stop measuring your journey by someone else’s milestones. Stop comparing your cross to someone else’s crown. Christ calls each of us to pure, undivided focus on Him.

🎨 Illustration

Imagine running a race while staring at the lane next to you. You’ll stumble. You’ll slow down. You may even disqualify yourself. Runners must fix their eyes on the finish line ahead.

🤔 Accountability Question

What if Jesus is asking you, “Why are your eyes on them instead of on Me?”

Transition: When we silence comparison and embrace obedience, we discover the true outcome: following Christ leads not to speculation about others, but to satisfaction in Him.

🎯 Point 4: The Promise of Christ is His Presence

🏛️ Explanation

The call to follow is not just about direction—it’s about companionship. The One who says, “Follow Me,” is the One who goes before us, walks beside us, and prepares a place for us. Obedience may lead us where we don’t want to go, but it will never take us where Christ has not already been.

🛠️ Application

When obedience is hard, remember His presence is near. When obedience costs, remember His reward is sure.

🎨 Illustration

Sheep follow the shepherd not because the path looks easy, but because they trust the shepherd’s voice.

🔍 Insight (Quote)

Andy Andrews, in The Traveler’s Gift, put it this way:

“It is never the duty of a leader to struggle for someone else; a leader must encourage others to struggle and assure them that the struggles are worthwhile.”

Jesus is the ultimate Shepherd-Leader. He doesn’t remove every hardship from our path, but He walks with us and shows us that the struggle is worth it—because His presence changes everything.

🤔 Accountability Question

If the only reward you had for obedience was Christ Himself walking with you, would that be enough?

🏁 Conclusion

Peter wanted to know John’s story, but Jesus wanted Peter to know his Savior. The command still rings today: “What is that to you? Follow Me.”

🎥 Object Lesson for Closing

For humor: “Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Because by the time they hear your criticism, you will be a mile away—and you will have their shoes.” (SNL quote)

Shoes – You can only walk in one pair. You can’t walk in someone else’s.

🔥 Closing

Church, hear this today: Comparison kills calling, but focus fuels faith. (Say that with me!) Obedience may take you where you do not want to go — but it will always take you closer to Christ.

Don’t waste your walk looking at someone else’s lane. Don’t dilute your devotion by staring at someone else’s destiny. What is that to you? Nothing. Your call is Christ. Your command is clear. Your choice is critical.

Follow Him when the path is plain, and follow Him when the path is painful. Follow Him when the crowd cheers, and follow Him when the crowd jeers. Follow Him when obedience feels natural, and follow Him when obedience feels impossible. Because every step after Jesus is a step away from yourself and a step closer to His glory.

Think of Peter — impulsive, stumbling, failing. Yet forgiven and restored through Jesus’ threefold call: “Feed My sheep.”And immediately after, Jesus sharpened his focus and re-centered his mission with two simple words: “Follow Me.”

Think of John — faithful, steady, unrecorded in his end, but always close to the heart of Christ. Both were different. Both were chosen. Both were called to follow. And so are you.

This is why the writer of Hebrews tells us: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1–2).

And don’t miss this: Jesus modeled exactly what He asks of us. He left the glory of heaven. He left the comfort of the Father’s side. He endured the suffering and the shame of the cross — and why? For the joy set before Him. And do you know what that joy was? It was you. We, the Church, are His glory! We are the reason He endured. Is HE enough of a reason for YOU to endure?

So will you lesave your ‘me time?’ Your ambitions? Your financial security? Everything you’ve planned?

🔥 CLIMACTIC DECLARATIONS

Because now He looks at us and asks the same question He asked Peter: “Will you follow Me?” But we hesitate. So He speaks again:

When finances seem to run short and there’s more month than money, God says: “What is that to you? Keep your eyes on Me. I have the wealth of Heaven in endless supply and I will meet your needs according to My riches.”

When sickness hits your home and fear tells you healing is impossible, God says: “What is that to you? Keep your eyes on Me. I am the Lord your healer and nothing is too hard for Me.”

When anxiety steals your sleep and the future feels uncertain, God says: “What is that to you? Keep your eyes on Me. I hold tomorrow in My hands and I go before you.”

When people attack you, lie about you, or betray you, God says: “What is that to you? Keep your eyes on Me. No weapon formed against you will prosper and I will be your defender.”

When doors close that you prayed would open, God says: “What is that to you? Keep your eyes on Me. I open doors no one can shut and I shut doors no one can open.”

When you feel unqualified and overlooked, God says: “What is that to you? Keep your eyes on Me. I do not call the equipped — I equip the called.”

And when obedience leads you where you do not want to go, God says: “What is that to you? Keep your eyes on Me. Follow Me, and I will lead you all the way home.”

Because when you leave what chains you, you follow the One who frees you. When you leave what distracts you, you follow the One who directs you. When you leave what is temporary, you follow the One who is eternal.

So rise up with resolve! Follow Him when it’s hard, follow Him when it hurts, follow Him when it costs, follow Him when it confuses. He is your Shepherd, your Savior, your Soon-Coming King!

And when the world asks, “What about them? Maybe you should second-guess your resolve,” may our answer echo Peter’s restored heart: “It’s not about them — it’s about Him. And I will follow.”

Church—now is the moment. Don’t hesitate. Don’t look sideways. Don’t delay. The Savior is speaking over you the same words He spoke on that shore long ago: “Come. Follow Me.”

Add the question in the title before these last three words after about 15 seconds of showing just those three words. I will be in the invitation by that point, but that’s ok. Add them.