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| Share Agape for the week of July 28, 2003 |
| "Do You Love Me?" John 21: 15-17 "So 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.' He said to him, 'Tend My lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Shepherd My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, 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, 'Tend My sheep.'" A first read of this week's Bible passage may seem a little odd. In it, Jesus asks his disciple Peter the same question over and over. Peter and Jesus respond nearly the same way each time. What was the purpose of this conversation and why was it included in the Bible? One take on it might be that Jesus was trying to impress upon Peter the importance of "the greatest commandment" (Mat. 22:37-39): if we love Christ, then we will naturally love and "tend to" others. Certainly, I think this is part of what Jesus was getting at. But upon closer examination, there's a deeper meaning in this passage. Bible study tools are a great aid to all Christians. Not all of us can be Bible scholars, but we can certainly all learn from them. Today there's a vast array of Bible study tools available online (many of them are free) and in Christian bookstores. One particularly handy tool all Christians should have is a parallel Bible, or any study aid that offers literal translations of the original language of the Bible. With such a tool in hand, you can study a passage like John 21 and be amazed at the many layers the Bible contains. In this particular instance, in the English translation Jesus merely asks Peter if he loves him. (Remember, in English we only have one word for "love.") But when you look at the original Greek, the first two times Jesus asks this question, he uses the word agapao, meaning to totally give yourself over to someone or something. He is not merely asking for Peter's friendship; he's not even asking if Peter loves him in any of the senses that we use the word "love" in English. He's quite literally asking if Peter has given himself over completely to the Lord. Interestingly, Peter's response shows hesitation and reservation. He answers only that he has phileo love for Jesus, meaning he has friendship-love for him. Peter, at that point, couldn't honestly worship Christ with all he had. He apparently looked upon Jesus only as a wise friend. For the third and last time, Jesus asks if Peter loves him--but this time (perhaps with a sigh), he uses the word phileo. Since Peter cannot fully commit himself to Christ yet, Jesus is asking if he at least has real friendship for him. Peter had a natural reaction of hurt. He probably hated to admit that he couldn't yet live up to Jesus' expectations, accept him fully as the Messiah, and completely give himself over to the Lord. He still couldn't quite bring himself to agapao. Yet, Jesus makes it very clear that this is exactly what Peter needs to do. He may love the church, he may love the doctrine, he may love the "lifestyle." But if he doesn't love and completely give himself over to Christ, he's missed the whole point. And how can we know if he's given himself over to Christ? By his fruits; if he loves (agapao) Christ, his outward actions will naturally reveal this. MORE ~~~> |
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