Being Loved 5
John 21:14-19 (NKJV)
This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
In this record by John of Jesus discussing love with Peter, I haven’t found an English translation that is honest in communicating the dialog. The two Greek words that are being used by Peter and Jesus are agapao (meaning something like “my love for you is all about you, and has the power to never fail”) and phileo (meaning something like “my love for you is like the way I love my tribe more than Dan or Naphtali, or I like you because we are family.”)
Consider these meanings when you read the text with the words in mind that were used by Jesus and Peter:
This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you agapao Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I phileoYou.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you agapao Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you phileo Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you phileo Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I phileo You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
Jesus was looking for agape to be the way He received love. All He was getting was phileo and eros (liking having Him around because people wanted what He offered – see John 6:26). John recorded Jesus at the last meal before His crucifixion praying that His Father would put in His disciples the love for Jesus that He has for Jesus (John 17:26). If we allow it, that prayer will be answered for us. Father’s love for Jesus will be in our hearts for Him.
Ask for it frequently. Jesus wants to be loved…