As the resurrected Savior ministered to his Apostles in Galilee, he intimated to Simon Peter that eventually he would suffer death at the hands of enemies. “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved [John].... Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” (John 21:20-23.) So states our New Testament account. It is an account which has been misunderstood and, especially because of what many believe to be a disclaimer in the passage (“yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die”), largely ignored. The belief that John’s ministry would continue has been relegated to legend and folktale.