A passage that I have really been mulling over recently is the recording of Jesus and Peter's conversation after Jesus' resurrection. It's interesting how God continues to place passages over and over in front of you through multiple venues. I've studied this passage in my Christology class over last summer, and then it popped up in a conversation, and then in a devotional. Clearly, God has a reason for me understanding this passage.
John 21:15-22 - "After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'Yes Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know I love you.' 'Then feed my lambs,' Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' 'Yes, Lord,' Peter said, 'you know I love you.' 'Then take care of my sheep,' Jesus said. A third time he asked him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, 'Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Then feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go.' Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, 'Follow me.' Peter turned around and saw behind him the disciple Jesus loved - the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, 'Lord, who will betray you?' Peter asked Jesus, 'What about him, Lord?' Jesus replied, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.'"
A lot of times when we read this passage, we have to ask why? Why did Jesus continue to ask Peter this? And why specifically three times?
The first two times, according to the original Greek language, Jesus used the word agapao, whereas the last time, he uses phileo. Does this mean something?
With the first two times, using the word agapao, Jesus is referring to sacrificial love. This love is the most noble, most powerful, really an act of will. Phileo is love that is friendship, or loving your brother.
With these questions, Jesus is looking right into Peter's heart to see what stage of love he is at. Peter truly reveals himself when he looks around to try to pass off this gaze on somebody else. He's definitely progressed, but he's still not completely ready to stand by Jesus' side. His love is there, but it's not quite at the stage it should be. Because Christianity is based so much on love, it should be our aim to constantly be improving at this stage. We should always be checking ourselves to see where we're at, and where we should be going. We should use that piercing insight of Jesus to really rattle our consciousness so that we start actively loving again.
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