“15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ 16 A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ 17 He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ 19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me’” John 21:15-19.
In the original Greek in which the New Testament was written, translating it into English loses the meaning of this text. When Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love Me?”, Jesus is using the Greek word agape, which means total, self-sacrificing love. When Peter tells Jesus, “I love You!”, Peter is using the Greek word, filia, which means brotherly love. Now both Greek words for love are beautiful and powerful words for love, but they mean something very different. Filia Love, or brotherly love, or affectionate love, is the love that you and I have for one another as Christian friends. Agape love, however, is the love that Jesus has for you and for me. It is sacrificial love whereby you and I are willing to give our lives for others. Jesus’ death on the Cross is agape love!
Peter doesn’t understand what Jesus is asking of Peter. Jesus is asking Peter to live as one who has agape love for others, especially for Jesus.
It is not until Pentecost, when Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit, that he is able to love Jesus with agape love.
Pray today that you will be filled with agape love for Jesus.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill your heart!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” 1 John 4:8.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:34-35.
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