John 21:22

A common misinterpretation arises from taking Jesus' hypothetical statement 'If I will that he tarry till I come' as a literal promise that John would remain alive until Christ's second coming, fueling legends of John's immortality; however, the verse is a rhetorical rebuke to Peter's meddling, not a prophecy, as clarified in the next verse and John's eventual death demonstrate it was not predictive.

Jesus redirects Peter's curiosity about John's future by emphasizing personal discipleship, teaching that each believer's primary responsibility is to follow Christ faithfully without distraction from others' paths or destinies, underscoring individual accountability and obedience to one's own calling in God's plan.