When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"
Peter was still not thrilled at the prospect of his own martyrdom. If it was necessary for Peter to die for the glory of God, what about the others? In particular, Peter wasn't going to let John, the beloved disciple get off easy. If Peter couldn't settle for less than giving his life for the Lord he would ensure that his friend/rival John wouldn't either. Or so his motivation seems to us.
Jesus said to him, "What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?
You follow me."
Jesus responded to Peter that it was no business of Peter's how he worked in the lives of others. Comparison of what the Lord asked of one person to what he asked of another would be unhelpful. He could purify a soul through a long life or a short one. He could receive glory through a death bearing witness to him or a long life of hidden fidelity. If Peter fixated on forcing others into a certain mold it would be unhelpful for them and a mere distraction for him, a detour from the purpose that was now before him. We are often like Peter in this way, using other peoples' business to distract us from our own unique path with the Lord. We do want to be known and loved by him as individuals. But we often hope that means he will let us off easy rather than challenging us to rise to the level of our potential. So when we see others who seem to have it easier than ourselves let us say, 'What concern is that of mine? I will follow Jesus', and all will be well.
So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.
But Jesus had not told him that he would not die
There was some confusion after the statement of Jesus, as though he actually implied that John would remain until the second coming. But nothing about John's future was actually implied. The only point was that, to Peter and the others, it was of no consequence.
And yet, after a fashion, John is still present with us glorifying God to this day. He is present through the text of this, his Gospel. When we believe his words we receive life in Jesus's name and God is indeed glorified. Peter too is still present after a way. He speaks through his successors, the bishops of Rome, teaching us how to interpret the Scriptures and Tradition that have been handed on to us by Apostles, the deposit of faith. So rather than striving for the longest possible life, let us think of our legacy more in terms of glorifying God through every opportunity he gives us. What matters is not so much life here below but the life that comes from faith in Jesus, both receiving it, and then sharing it with others, as Paul never ceased to do.
He remained for two full years in his lodgings.
He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance
and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
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