Good point, but while tarrying, where would he be? Somewhere other than on earth?
[SUP]23 [/SUP]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?
[SUP]23 [/SUP]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?
First of all, the scripture is not saying that John would not die. In fact, right in the scripture it tells us that it was only a rumor that John would remain alive:
"Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”23Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
Therefore, it was only a rumor that Jesus said that John would remain alive. This is not related to the issue in your original post.