Presumption in Asking Jesus, "What Will This Man Do?"
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In the Gospel of John, we encounter a moment that highlights the theme of presumption in the context of following Jesus. After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. During this encounter, He reinstates Peter, who had denied Him three times, by asking Peter three times if he loves Him and instructing him to "Feed My sheep" (John 21:17).

Following this, Jesus gives Peter a glimpse into his future, indicating the manner of his death and calling him to follow Him. It is at this point that Peter, noticing the disciple whom Jesus loved (traditionally understood to be John), asks, "Lord, what about him?" (John 21:21). This question reveals a presumption on Peter's part, as he seeks to know the future or destiny of another disciple.

Jesus' response to Peter is both direct and instructive: "If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!" (John 21:22). This reply underscores a key principle in the Christian walk: the call to follow Jesus is personal and individual. Each believer is called to focus on their own path of discipleship without undue concern for the specific plans God has for others.

The presumption in Peter's question serves as a reminder of the human tendency to compare oneself with others or to seek knowledge of God's plans beyond what He has revealed. Jesus' response redirects Peter—and by extension, all believers—toward a trust in God's sovereign will and a commitment to personal obedience.

This passage also highlights the importance of humility and contentment in the Christian life. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's wisdom and timing, recognizing that His plans for each person are unique and tailored to their individual calling and purpose.

In summary, the incident of Peter's question, "What will this man do?" serves as a caution against presumption and a call to focus on one's own relationship with Christ. It emphasizes the need for trust, obedience, and a personal commitment to follow Jesus, regardless of His plans for others.
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John 21:20-22
Then Peter, turning about, sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrays you?
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Library

Man Now Deprived of Freedom of Will, and Miserably Enslaved.
... Nor is there any ground for asking what concourse the Spirit can ... Far from us be such
presumption! ... when he prays, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 man now deprived.htm

"I Will Give You Rest. "
... shall I need your attention; and we will begin by asking the question ... If there is
any presumption in the case, let us not be so ... "I heard the voice of Jesus say,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/i will give you rest.htm

The Truth in Jesus.
... Instead of asking yourself whether you believe or not ... wrong, quite another to call
whatever presumption may attribute to ... I am right in this, that Jesus must be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the truth in jesus.htm

The Scales of Judgment
... On the rock of presumption thousands have been split that once sailed ... without testing
you, I would not care admit asking you this ... God bless you, for Jesus sake ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the scales of judgment.htm

"Wash You, Make You Clean; Put Away the Evil of Your Doings from ...
... Upon what presumption do ye continue in your sins, and put ... he that came by water
and blood, even Jesus Christ, not ... now he hath the Spirit given for the asking. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xi wash you make.htm

The Hardness of the Way.
... It is in you but pitiable presumption to wonder whether it ... it is the ever fresh rousing
and calling, asking and sending ... he is not in the world as Jesus was in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the hardness of the way.htm

"Lo, I Come": Application
... pleases us for a season; but self-righteousness, presumption, pretended infidelity ...
I come." Without asking you, and without your asking him, he ... Jesus is not lost ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/lo i come application.htm

God's Scrutiny Longed For
... is it that the psalm should end with asking God to ... I love Thee,' so may we turn to
Jesus Christ, who ... nothing against himself"and not the 'if' of presumption. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/gods scrutiny longed for.htm

Necessity of Contemplating the Judgment-Seat of God, in Order to ...
... hope is, that we have one Mediator Jesus Christ the ... There is no reason for asking
by what merits ... which neither wants merit without presumption, nor presumption ...
/.../chapter 12 necessity of contemplating.htm

The Healing of the Man Born Blind.
... two other points there is strong presumption, though we ... Rabbis, when meeting such
unfortunate persons, asking them, how ... by only one inference: If Jesus had not ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the healing of.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about anal sex? What is sodomy according to the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God is holy, holy, holy? | GotQuestions.org

Is Jesus Yahweh? Is Jesus Jehovah? | GotQuestions.org

Presumption: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Presumption

Presumption in Asking Jesus, "What Will This Man Do?"

Presumption in Objecting to Jesus' Statement That Jesus Must be Killed

Presumption in Objecting to Jesus Washing Peter's Feet

Presumption in Reflecting Upon his Knowledge when he Asked, Amid a Throng, Who Touched Jesus

Presumption in Reviling God

Presumption: A Characteristic of Antichrist

Presumption: A Characteristic of the Wicked

Presumption: Abraham, in Questioning About Sodom

Presumption: Benhadad

Presumption: Ben-Hadad

Presumption: Builders of Babel

Presumption: Complaining at Meribah

Presumption: David, in Numbering Israel

Presumption: David's Anger on Account of Uzzah's Death

Presumption: Diotrephes

Presumption: Exhibited in Esteeming Our own Ways Right

Presumption: Exhibited in Opposing God

Presumption: Exhibited in Planning for the Future

Presumption: Exhibited in Pretending to Prophecy

Presumption: Exhibited in Seeking Precedence

Presumption: Exhibited in Self-Righteousness

Presumption: Exhibited in Spiritual Pride

Presumption: Exhibited in Wilful Commission of Sin

Presumption: General Scriptures Concerning

Presumption: Israelites

Presumption: Israelites, in Ascending to the Top of the Hill Against the Amalekites

Presumption: James and John, in Desiring to Call Down Fire Upon the Samaritans

Presumption: Jeroboam

Presumption: Job, in Cursing the Day of his Birth

Presumption: Jonah

Presumption: Korah

Presumption: Korah, Dathan, and Abiram

Presumption: Men of Bethshemesh

Presumption: Men of Beth-Shemesh

Presumption: Moses, in Rebuking Jehovah

Presumption: Nadab and Abihu

Presumption: Pray to be Kept from Sins of

Presumption: Punishment For

Presumption: Reproved by Eliphaz

Presumption: Reproving Jesus

Presumption: Saints Avoid

Presumption: Satan, when he Said to Eve, "You Will Surely not Die"

Presumption: Saul, in Sacrificing

Presumption: Sennacherib

Presumption: Sons of Sceva

Presumption: Sparing the Amalekites

Presumption: The Disciples, in Rebuking Those Who Brought Little Children to Jesus

Presumption: The Disciples, in Their Indignation at the Anointing of Jesus

Presumption: The Sons of Sceva

Presumption: Theudas

Presumption: Those Who Reviled Jesus

Presumption: Uzzah

Presumption: Uzzah, in Steadying the Ark of the Covenant

Presumption: Uzziah

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