As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
A Minister brought to my attention the famous questioning of Peter by Jesus , in asking if Peter loved Jesus. There is much more going on in these verses and I would like to share and expand on this, as it is a lesson in how we are to love God.
This takes place in John chapter 21 and is the 3rd time that Jesus has appeared to the disciples after raising Himself from the dead.
Jesus begins by asking Peter if he loves them more than the rest of "these". Peter answers that Jesus knows he loves him.
What we have here are though Jesus using the word, agape for love, which is the all encompassing love which God is. Peter answers with the word, phileo, which is the tender love of a friend.
Jesus then issues a command which is overlooked. He tells Peter to "feed His lambs", meaing feed the young in Spirit.
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
agapáō – properly, to prefer, to love; for the believer, preferring to "live through Christ" (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God's will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapáō) preeminently refers to what God prefers as He "is love" (1 Jn 4:8,16). See 26 (agapē).
philéō (from 5384 /phílos, "affectionate friendship") – properly, to show warm affection in intimate friendship, characterized by tender, heartfelt consideration and kinship.
Jesus then asks again if Peter loves Him with the encompassing Love Who is God, Who just laid down His life in a horrid death to save all who will believe, the Love which only manifests through Jesus the Christ.
Peter replies again that he loves Jesus as a dear friend.
Christ now commands for Peter to "Shepherd His Sheep".
Do not miss that Jesus refers to Peter not as the Rock, but as Simon the son of John. Jesus is noting that Peter is a man with an earthly father and not the Peter who has a Heavenly Father.
This Simon is now commanded to govern over Christ's converts.
16Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
The 3rd time Peter is asked by Jesus if he loves him, Jesus turns the verbiage on Peter and asks him, if he is His friend. Peter confirms that he does love Jesus as a devoted friend.
Jesus responds, "Ok Peter, be my friend".
Jesus then commands for Peter to "Feed My Sheep".
Jesus is telling Peter that he is at the point where he can teach the converts, he can govern the congregation, and Peter can nurture the Church, but Peter is "Rock upon which I will build my Church", a physical foundation and that is what Christ is exposing. Peter is not the Spiritual growth which the Holy Ghost will bring.
17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
PHILIES from Philio - To be a friend, affection for
Phileo
By contrast, we come to the misunderstood verse of "John the disciple whom Jesus loved". The word LOVE in this context is Spiritual connection. This expands at the end of the Gospel when John is explaining about a contention which Peter was having with Jesus. Jesus has told Peter that he will die. Peter's first thought is, "Well what about John?" There is an inferiority in Peter which shows as he knows that Jesus has a different Spiritual connection with John.
Jesus retorts with, "What is it to you if John lives". The disciples in ignornace thought that Jesus was saying John would not die. John explains that is not what Jesus said at all.
There is a reality in this, on the night Jesus was betrayed, all the disciples fled and Peter denied Christ to save his life. All the disciples who saved their lives died horrid deaths later. John was the one who stayed with Christ at the trial and at the cross. John did live in not saving his life the night Jesus was betrayed.
We have in context two loves, the love for Christ of Peter and the Love in Christ of John. One physical and one Spiritual. One which sows the Gospel into humans and One which transforms them into the children of God in Spirit.
John 13:23
One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.
agapáō – properly, to prefer, to love; for the believer, preferring to "live through Christ" (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God's will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapáō) preeminently refers to what God prefers as He "is love" (1 Jn 4:8,16). See 26 (agapē).
When Jesus rose from the dead, Peter was a man, like the other disciples, in having a love for Christ. That is what Jesus is saying at the end, "Ok Peter love me like the other 9 disciples." John though was already a Spiritual Love of God connecting him through Christ to the Father in Heaven. They were in Immanuel, God With Us, not yet of God In Us which came with the Holy Ghost at First Fruits or Pentecost, en menei hemin.
I truly believe there is so much more to this story beyond the use of friends and God's Caring.
This though is a start.
Nuff Said
agtG
