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Word and promise
Old ramblings
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Peter: phileo not agape
Monday, June 3, 2013; ( 10:23 AM )
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. (John 21:15-17 NKJV)
I have been thinking about Peter.
Peter is an oddball in the bible. He was up and down. He was no rock, and yet Jesus called him one. He was up in one moment, and the next down. He walk on water, only to have his faith wavering . He promise that even if the rest of the twelve were to deny Jesus,but he himself wouldn't. Only like an instant later, 3 times he deny Jesus, and one time he swore that he never knew him.
I always wanted to have my baptism name to be Moses after I was baptized but by then it was a little late. Moses was special man, 75 with a self esteem of a chicken who had been ran over by a car, a name that meant drawn out one, and the meekesr man in the old testament . But my cell group leader say I am a Peter, because I am always up and down.
But if one thing that can never be denied about Peter, it would be his love and faith for God.
Out of the twelve , he was the only two who went to the trial other that John himself.
Walking on water.
Part of the three closer ones.
Called down the spirit on the pentacoastal day.
Died crucified upside down for the gospel, denying to die the same way as Jesus
When Jesus met Peter, he ask Peter 3 times if he love Him.
John was written in Greek, and so
Jesus ask him if he "agape"(gk. agapao) Him.
Agape is an unconditional love that is whole ,that usually pertains to God.
For God so loved (agape)the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 NKJV)
But all 3 times, Peter , as if humbled by the denying Jesus experience, knew that he could not love Jesus that way . He said he love(phileo) Him.
Phileo is a brother to brother, emotional and deep love for friends.
The first two time, Jesus used the word Agape. But the third time, He asked Peter if he Phileo(love) Hin which Peter replies:"Lord , You know all things ".
Peter knew he could not love Jesus the same way that Jesus love him. And Jesus, knowing that Peter couldn't, came down to Peter 's level. Instead of a high and mighty position,He came down to Peter 's level. Peter was no rock on his own. But he was a rock built on Christ. And Jesus, too, came down to Peter's level . He didn't expect Peter to change to his level but he went down to Peter 's level. I Pray that I will phileo(love) Jesus more and more daily . |